Ann-Renée Desbiens

Ann-Renée Desbiens
Desbiens with the Montreal Victoire in 2025
Born (1994-04-10) April 10, 1994
La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
PWHL team
Former teams		 Montreal Victoire
Montréal Stars
PWHPA
National team  Canada
Playing career 2013–present
Medal record
Women's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BeijingTeam
Silver medal – second place2018 PyeongchangTeam
Silver medal – second place2026 Milano CortinaTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place2021 Canada
Gold medal – first place2022 Denmark
Gold medal – first place2024 United States
Silver medal – second place2015 Sweden
Silver medal – second place2023 Canada
Silver medal – second place2025 Czechia

Ann-Renée Desbiens (born April 10, 1994) is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender for the Montreal Victoire and member of the Canada women's national ice hockey team.

She participated at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship,[1] the 2018 Winter Olympics.,[2] the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship, the 2022 Winter Olympics, and the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship. She won silver at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Desbiens was the first female player drafted to the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League, the second-highest men's junior league in Québec after the QMJHL. She was selected by the Loups de La Tuque but was cut before ever playing a game because the coach didn't believe there was any point in developing girls.[3] That same year, she participated in the Shawinigan Cataractes training camp.[4]

She made one playoff appearance for the Montréal Stars of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) in 2012, as the team won the Clarkson Cup.

College

In 2013, she was offered a scholarship to play at the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA, despite not being fluent in English. Across four years with the Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey program, she led the team to four Frozen Four appearances, tallied 99 wins in 122 games, and set several individual records, including highest career save percentage (SV%), at .963, and lowest goals against average (GAA), with 0.71.

During her senior year, on November 6, 2016, Desbiens broke Noora Räty's record for most NCAA career shutouts of any gender. In a 6–0 shutout victory against the Bemidji State Beavers, Desbiens would log career shutout number 44.[5] At the end of her senior year, Desbiens was awarded the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female college ice hockey player in the United States.[6]

Desbiens was the first Canadian selected at the 2016 NWHL Draft, chosen in the first round, fourth overall by the Boston Pride.[7][8][9] As of 2021, she has not appeared with the team nor made any indication of interest in playing in the NWHL.

After the 2018 Olympics, during the 2018-19 season, Desbiens took a break from hockey, citing exhaustion and the uncertainty of options to play professionally.[10][11] In May 2019, she returned to hockey by joining the PWHPA.

In the 2019–20 season, Desbiens appeared for the Fond du Lac Bears in the Great Lakes Hockey League, an elite men's amateur league. She also participated in the women's ice hockey showcase at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, making 15 saves as the Canadian All-Stars beat the American All-Stars.[12]

PWHPA

Standing between the pipes for Team Bauer (Montreal) in the 2021 Secret Cup, which was the Canadian leg of the 2020–21 PWHPA Dream Gap Tour, Ann-Renee Desbiens registered 19 saves in a 4-2 championship game win over Team Sonnet (Toronto).[13]

PWHL

In 2023, the PWHPA and the rival Premier Hockey Federation consolidated into the new Professional Women's Hockey League.[14] With each of the six new teams able to make three initial free agency signings, Desbiens was widely assessed as a probable signing by the new PWHL Montreal, later renamed the Montreal Victoire.[15][16][17] On September 5, she was reported as one of Montreal team's first three players, alongside Team Canada teammates Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey.[18] In the 2024-25 PWHL season, Desbiens was awarded Goaltender of the Year.[19] During the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, she was one of three players who were allowed to be protected first by Montreal.[20] On October 23, 2025, she signed a two-year contract extension with the Victoire.[21] During the 2026 PWHL Expansion Draft, she was again one of three players, who were allowed to be protected first by Montreal.[22]

International play

Desbiens with Canada during the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship

Desbiens was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship, where she guided Canada to a silver medal.[2] She was also selected to play for Team Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where she again won a silver medal.[2]

On January 11, 2022, Desbiens was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team.[23][24][25]

International play

Debiens was part of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championship in Chicago. As a member of the gold medal-winning squad, a hockey card of her was featured in the Upper Deck 2010 World of Sports card series.[26] In addition, she participated in the Canada Celebrates Event on June 30 in Edmonton, Alberta which recognized the Canadian Olympic and World hockey champions from the 2009–10 season .[27]

During the 2011–12 Canada women's national ice hockey team season, she was a member of the Canadian National Under 18 team that participated in a three-game series vs. the US in August 2011.[28] She was part of the gold medal-winning Team Ontario Red squad at the 2011 Canadian National Women's Under-18 Championships[29]

Olympics

Desbiens competed for Team Canada at her first Olympic Games in PyeongChang 2018, earning a shutout against the Olympic Athletes of Russia. Following the Games, Desbiens stepped back from goaltending for an eighteen month break until the 2019-2020 Canada-USA Rivalry Series.[30]

On January 11, 2022, Desbiens was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team.[31][32][33] There, she made five starts.[34] In a preliminary game against the United States, she made 51 saves on 53 shots, setting a Canadian record for the most saves in an Olympic game. [35] In the gold medal game, also against the United States, she made 38 saves on 40 shots, earning her first Olympic gold medal.[36]

On January 9, 2026, Desbiens was named to Canada's roster to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.[37] She made her tournament debut on February 9, 2026, featuring in a 5–1 victory over Czechia.[38] She was part of the squad which won the silver medal, following a 2-1 loss against the United States in the final on February 19, 2026, a game in which she made 31 saves.[39]

Personal life

Desbiens has a master's degree in accounting.[40][41] She has named NHL goaltender Patrick Roy as a role model, her family being supporters of the Quebec Nordiques and then the Colorado Avalanche.[42]

In October 2025, a sculpture of Ann-Renée Desbiens was unveiled at the Clermont Arena in her hometown.[43]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLOTMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2011–12 Montréal Stars CWHL ————————— 110——03.00.000
2013–14 University of Wisconsin WCHA 1211106771231.06.957 ————————
2014–15 University of Wisconsin WCHA 372674223643141.15.941 ————————
2015–16 University of Wisconsin WCHA 383341227929210.76.960 ————————
2016–17 University of Wisconsin WCHA 352924211025170.71.963 ————————
2019–20 Fond du Lac Bears GJHL 110060101.00.960 ————————
2023–24 PWHL Montreal PWHL 167529763712.28.923 303247701.70.931
2024–25 Montreal Victoire PWHL 2115221,2283801.86.932 413311801.550.943
2025–26 Montreal Victoire PWHL 2516641,5092871.11.955 9636011421.400.944
PWHL totals 62381383,71410381,66.937 167911592921.500,948

International

Year Team Event Result GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2011 Canada U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3210179511.67.900
2015 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3200140431.71.931
2018 Canada OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 110060010.001.000
2021 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5500307711.37.908
2022 Canada OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5500300901.80.940
2022 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5500300410.80.934
2023 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 54103031011.98.884
2024 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5401309721.36.936
2025 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4211257711.64.926
2026 Canada OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5311296911.82.914
Junior totals 3210179511.67.900
Senior totals 383133227257111.51.925
Sources: EliteProspects, University of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Bears

Awards and honours

Honours Year Ref
College
WCHA Player of the Year 2016 [44]
AHCA-CCM First-team All-American 2017 [45]
Patty Kazmaier Award 2017 [6]
PWHL
PWHL Goaltender of the Year 2025 [46]
First All-Star Team 2025
Second All-Star Team 2026 [47]
Walter Cup champion 2026 [48]

References

  1. ↑ "2015 IIHF World Championship roster" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ann-Renée Desbiens". olympic.ca. December 22, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ Lavoie, Kathleen (October 21, 2017). "Ann-Renée Desbiens, la muraille canadienne". Le Soleil (in French). Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Ann-Renée Desbiens à la croisée des chemins – Photo Pierre Rochette". Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Wisconsin women's hockey: Ann-Renée Desbiens breaks NCAA shutout record in win". WCHA.com. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Ann-Renee Desbiens Wins 20th Patty Kaz Award". pattykaz.com. March 18, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  7. ↑ Wells, Nathan (June 18, 2016). "WCHA Players Dominate 2016 NWHL Draft". SB Nation College Hockey. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ Shircliff, Elaine (September 1, 2016). "Meet the 2016 Boston Pride Draftees". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ Bevis, Hannah (September 28, 2017). "Women's Hockey Top 25 Under 25 | Number 2 - Ann-Renée Desbiens". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ Lorange, Simon-Olivier (January 30, 2020). "Ann-Renée Desbiens: "On n'est pas habituées à ça !"". La Presse (in French). Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  11. ↑ Rioux, Benoît (November 28, 2019). "Ann-Renée Desbiens : la "barbare" de La Malbaie". Le Journal de Montréal. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ Woodley, Kevin (February 6, 2020). "Desbiens getting chance in goal for Canada". NHL.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Team Bauer beats Team Sonnet to win Canadian leg of PWHPA Secret Dream Gap Tour". sportsnet.ca. May 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  14. ↑ Wawrow, John (July 4, 2023). "'Years in the making': Marie-Philip Poulin ready to start new women's hockey league". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  15. ↑ Sadler, Emily (September 1, 2023). "PWHL Free Agency Primer: Where Poulin, Knight, Nurse could go and why". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (September 3, 2023). "Three Free Agency Targets For Each PWHL Team". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (August 31, 2023). "Professional Women's Hockey League: Predicting the top 18 players who could sign". The Athletic. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Marie-Philip Poulin to sign with PWHL Montreal, Sarah Nurse to join Toronto". Sportsnet. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  19. ↑ Geremy. "Ann-Renée Desbiens's Dominant Season Wins Goalie of the Year & Should Have Won MVP". theixsports.com. The IX Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "PWHL ANNOUNCES PLAYER PROTECTION LISTS FOR 2025 EXPANSION ROSTER BUILDING PROCESS". www.thepwhl.com. June 3, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Montreal Victoire extends contracts for three foundational players". thepwhl.com. October 23, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  22. ↑ https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2026/june/03/pwhl-announces-player-protection-lists-for-phase-1-of-2026-expansion-roster-building-process
  23. ↑ Awad, Brandi (January 11, 2022). "Team Canada's women's hockey roster revealed for Beijing 2022". Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Canada's 2022 Olympic women's hockey team roster". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  25. ↑ "2022 Olympic Winter Games (Women)". www.hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  26. ↑ "". August 21, 2010. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  27. ↑ "61 hockey champions to attend HCF Celebrity Classic Gala – Edmonton Oilers – Community". Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Rosters – Selection Camp". Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  29. ↑ "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  30. ↑ Rutherford, Kristina. ""A Fresh Start"". sportsnet.ca. SportsNet. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  31. ↑ Awad, Brandi (January 11, 2022). "Team Canada's women's hockey roster revealed for Beijing 2022". Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Canada's 2022 Olympic women's hockey team roster". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  33. ↑ "2022 Olympic Winter Games (Women)". www.hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  34. ↑ The PWHL. "Player: Ann-Renee Desbiens". thepwhl.com. PWHL. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  35. ↑ Hruby, Emma. "Ann Renée-Desbiens makes record 51 saves in Canada's win over USA". justwomenssports.com. Just Women's Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  36. ↑ Marchesan, John. "'Captain Clutch' leads Canada to gold in women's Olympic hockey final". CityNews. CityNews. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Team Canada unveils women's roster for 2026 Olympics in Milan". TSN.ca. January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  38. ↑ Longley, Rob (February 9, 2026). "Marie-Philip Poulin exits Canada blowout win over Czechia with injury". National Post. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  39. ↑ Donkin, Karissa (February 19, 2026). "Underdog Canadian women's hockey team scrapped until the end, but 'fell just inches short'". CBC Sports. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  40. ↑ "WCHA 20th Anniversary Team - Ann-Renée Desbiens, Wisconsin". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  41. ↑ Murphy, Connor (August 25, 2018). "2018 Women's Hockey Top 25 Under 25 | No. 7: Ann-Renée Desbiens". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  42. ↑ Tardif, Carl (February 18, 2018). "20 questions à... Ann-Renée Desbiens". Le Soleil (in French). Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  43. ↑ Kennedy, Ian. "Desbiens Honored With Sculpture at Home Arena in Quebec". thehockeynews.com. Women's Hockey Roundtable. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  44. ↑ "WCHA ANNOUNCES 2015–16 POSTSEASON AWARDS". WCHA.com. March 3, 2016. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  45. ↑ "2017 All-American Teams". ahcahockey.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  46. ↑ "PWHL Announces 2025 Award Winners". thepwhl.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  47. ↑ "PWHL Announces 2026 Award Winners". thepwhl.com. June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  48. ↑ Laframboise, Kalina (May 20, 2026). "Montreal Victoire wins first Walter Cup championship". The Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
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