Game 5 of the semifinal series between the Montreal Victoire and the Minnesota Frost was postponed on Monday, just two hours ahead of the matchup at Laval’s Place Bell.
The PWHL announced in an updated statement late Monday that the game had been moved to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The game happens to coincide with the Montreal Canadiens’ Game 4 against the Buffalo Sabres.
Around 5 p.m. Monday, the league announced the game had “been postponed due to player safety concerns related to illness. Medical assessment has determined that the symptoms are not consistent with hantavirus.”
According to one report, several players on the Victoire are “reportedly battling a virus.” The league did not confirm the nature of the illness.
Yessica Ghysens and Seppe Dejonckheere, who arrived from Belgium early Monday for their vacation, only found out the game was off when they arrived at Place Bell. Small signs were taped on the doors of the building’s entrance.
A sign notifies fans that Game 5 of Professional Women’s Hockey League playoff series between the Montreal Victoire and Minnesota Frost was postponed, on a window at Place Bell in Laval on Monday, May 11, 2026. Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
“It sucks for us because we really wanted to see the game,” Ghysens said. “Because it’s something we don’t really have.”
The league says all tickets for Monday’s game will be honoured for the rescheduled Game 5.
“Fans who purchased their tickets through the Victoire or Ticketmaster, Place Bell’s primary ticket provider, will be contacted directly regarding their tickets,” the PWHL said in an updated statement late Monday.
Ghysens and Dejonckheere said they’re visiting other Canadian cities in the coming days, so they won’t be able to attend on a different day.
“It happens,” Dejonckheere said. “Not much you can do about it.”
Three technicians, who were supposed to work during the game Monday, told The Gazette that rescheduling or cancelling a match is rare.
“We were just finished setting up and it was 3:30 p.m. and one of our colleagues came in and said the game’s cancelled,” said Jeff, who was not authorized to speak on behalf of his employer, adding he was told it was “due to a virus” but not given more information.
His colleague Matt thought, at first, “it was a joke for some reason.”
“I was blown away,” Matt said. “I had never seen anything like that.”
Winner-take-all
The teams are tied 2-2 in their best-of-five series, with the winner advancing to the Walter Cup final against the Ottawa Charge, who defeated the Boston Fleet in double overtime Sunday to win their series.
Minnesota won 5-4 in overtime in Game 1 against Montreal last weekend. The Victoire then tied it up after captain Marie-Philip Poulin broke a scoreless draw in the third overtime period of Game 2.
The series then shifted to Minnesota, where the Victoire took the lead with a tight 2-1 win Thursday night in Game 3. On the brink of elimination, the Frost bounced back with a 3-1 victory the following night, tying up the series and forcing a final Game 5 at Place Bell.
‘I was disappointed, but it’s understandable’
Chantal Dion and Martine Gouin, who described themselves as Victoire “fanatics,” had arrived early to spend a bit of time at La Cage before the puck drop Monday night. Their commute is about 90 minutes from Montreal’s South Shore, but the announcement was made only after they had arrived in Laval.
“I was disappointed, but it’s understandable. When you’re sick, you’re not at your best,” Gouin said.
Dion said she was already feeling stressed about the do-or-die scenario of Game 5, but that she hopes everything turns out OK for both teams.
“Postponing another match, I’m going to be waiting. And then I’m going to be thinking, ‘Wow, is my team going to win? Are they going to make it? Are they going to make it?’”
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