Tardif, Henderson on hand for presentation

Marie-Philip Poulin was presented her 2024-25 IIHF Player of the Year trophy on Tuesday night prior to the home opener of the Montreal Victoire of the PWHL. On hand for the ceremony was IIHF president Luic Tardif, Katherine Henderson, President and CEO of Hockey Canada, and Jonathan Goldbloom, Chair of the Board, Hockey Canada.
 
Poulin then took to the ice and recorded a goal and an assist in the Victoire’s 4-0 win over the New York Sirens.
 
“This award reflects the tremendous season Marie-Philip had last year in both IIHF competition and in the PWHL,” Tardif noted, “but it would not have been possible without her dedication over many years. She represents the very best about the game and is constantly trying to get better.”
 
The 34-year-old Poulin garnered 33.1% of all votes, a healthy gap separating her from the runner-up, American goalie Gwyneth Philips, who had 22.3%.
 
Poulin is the only player, male or female, to be selected as a finalist all three years of the award’s young history. In 2023, she finished 7th in the voting. Last year she was third, and now she has reached the top.
 
Previous winners were Knight, in 2023, and Canada’s Natalie Spooner, in 2024.
 
Poulin’s 2024-25 season was impressive. The Team Canada and Victoire captain won a silver medal with Canada at the Women’s Worlds in Czechia this past April and was also named tournament MVP. She led the event in scoring with 12 points in seven games. In PWHL play, Poulin led the league in goals with 19 and took the team to the playoffs for a second straight season.
 

About the Award

 
The IIHF Female Player of the Year Award is given every year to a player who has best demonstrated exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the most recent season.
 
The player must have competed in at least one IIHF tournament at any level the previous season (Women’s World Championship, Women’s U18 World Championship) as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country, the combined performances of which are considered superior to all other players.