In the span of a week, both of Team Canada's top goalies are facing injury concerns
Montreal Victoire goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens went down after an awkward fall in the crease with an apparent knee injury partway through the second period against the Boston Fleet in PWHL action on Tuesday.
Elaine Chuli stepped in to replace her in net after Desbiens was helped off the ice by her teammates. She is being assessed by the team and is not expected to return to the game.
The Ottawa Charge's Emerance Maschmeyer also went down with a lower-body injury on Wednesday and could miss the rest of the season. She has been placed on LTIR.
These two injuries are troubling for the PWHL playoffs that will start in May as the Victoire look to maintain their No. 1 seed, and the Charge hope to move into a playoff position.
In addition to playoff concerns, the injuries are quite the issue for Canada with the IIHF World Women's Championship coming up in early April. Since 2019, Maschmeyer and Desbiens have combined to play every game for Canada at the worlds and Olympics.
Desbiens holds the best record in the PWHL with 13 wins, two losses and boasts a .932 save percentage. Her excellence in net is one of the reasons the Victoire top the standings and have already secured a playoff spot.
The Victoire have yet to comment on the injury and whether Desbiens will miss time.
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