CITY LINES:
MÉGANE SAUVÉ
Interview: Jason Gisoo Kim
Photos: Ararsa Kitaba
In North America, there is no better time to be a sports fan than during the playoffs—something our friends overseas may not truly understand. Fall means playoff footy across all leagues, and we wanted to showcase why this time of year is so special.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been chopping it up with players from the MLS, CPL, and NSL as they prepare for the biggest games of their respective seasons. We caught up with Roses de Montréal defender Mégane Sauvé ahead of the second leg of the NSL semifinal. She hopes to lead the Roses to the first-ever NSL Final.
Tap in as we talk to Sauvé about leadership, her time in Portugal, and what it means to return to Québec and co-captain a club that not only represents a city, but a province. Parts of this interview are in French, notably when she expresses herself in her native language while speaking about La Belle Province.
DARBY: Who has been the most influential figure in your personal life?
Mégane Sauvé: My dad, because he’s been my coach in every team I’ve played in growing up. Either hockey or soccer, whatever sport I was playing, he was always there. So I think he’s the most influential in terms of the value you bring into sports. He’s the person who gave me the most of it [value].
In football, who is your biggest inspiration?
MS: I have a two-part answer. The first one, whenever I go to a new team and I don’t know the players I'm playing with, I am going to find some key players who I am trying to get inspired by. So every time I’ve been in a team, I'm trying to find one or two figures to be inspired by. This year, I saw Charlotte as someone who can really inspire me, she’s older than me, and she’s done it all.
Every year, I try to watch a women’s soccer player who plays the same position as me. I really like Lucy Bronze right now because we play the same type of football. I think those are the two inspirations for me.
When was the moment you fell in love with football?
MS: The first moment I fell in love with football I think it was whenever we would go to these tournaments at nine, ten or eleven years old. We would sleep at these hotels, and that is where I fell in love with the social part of it. And later on, when I played for Team Quebec, with a more intense level and structure, I loved it more and wanted to pursue it at a professional level.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been chopping it up with players from the MLS, CPL, and NSL as they prepare for the biggest games of their respective seasons. We caught up with Roses de Montréal defender Mégane Sauvé ahead of the second leg of the NSL semifinal. She hopes to lead the Roses to the first-ever NSL Final.
Tap in as we talk to Sauvé about leadership, her time in Portugal, and what it means to return to Québec and co-captain a club that not only represents a city, but a province. Parts of this interview are in French, notably when she expresses herself in her native language while speaking about La Belle Province.
DARBY: Who has been the most influential figure in your personal life?
Mégane Sauvé: My dad, because he’s been my coach in every team I’ve played in growing up. Either hockey or soccer, whatever sport I was playing, he was always there. So I think he’s the most influential in terms of the value you bring into sports. He’s the person who gave me the most of it [value].
In football, who is your biggest inspiration?
MS: I have a two-part answer. The first one, whenever I go to a new team and I don’t know the players I'm playing with, I am going to find some key players who I am trying to get inspired by. So every time I’ve been in a team, I'm trying to find one or two figures to be inspired by. This year, I saw Charlotte as someone who can really inspire me, she’s older than me, and she’s done it all.
Every year, I try to watch a women’s soccer player who plays the same position as me. I really like Lucy Bronze right now because we play the same type of football. I think those are the two inspirations for me.
When was the moment you fell in love with football?
MS: The first moment I fell in love with football I think it was whenever we would go to these tournaments at nine, ten or eleven years old. We would sleep at these hotels, and that is where I fell in love with the social part of it. And later on, when I played for Team Quebec, with a more intense level and structure, I loved it more and wanted to pursue it at a professional level.
You moved to Portugal in 2023. Was there a moment of culture shock? And how did you learn to adapt to a new environment?
MS: When I moved to Portugal, the first culture shock I noticed on the field was the way they spoke to each other, which was an aggressive type of way. I had to get a hold of it cause it wasn't really like that here [Quebec]. So I got used to how people say things, and I started feeling it and even saying it how they would say it.
Culture-wise, I think they’re so in love with soccer, and I think that’s something that stayed with me. So I was hoping I could bring it back here.
You played for Valadares Gaia and later Sporting Lisbon. Were there any challenges, and what did you learn from it?
MS: My first club in Portugal was Valadares. The main challenge coming into this team is that it’s a small club with not a lot of infrastructure, so I kind of had to do the best with what you have. And you would have to play against these big teams like Benfica, and you have half of what they have. And we still had to make it a good run. With Sporting, obviously, a bigger club and more organized. My challenge there was that I was facing international stars and players. The competition was really high. So I had to adapt to the level of speed during training.
What does it mean to you to come back home and be a part of the Roses?
MS: De revenir à la maison et puis de représenter ma ville et ma province. C’est quelque chose qui est extrêmement important pour moi. Parce que c’est là où j’ai été formé. Tous les apprentissages que j’ai eus, c’est ici où je les ai eus. C’est ma façon de redonner à tous ce qu’on m’a donné dans mon passé et mon apprentissage. Je pense que c’est juste une belle façon de redonner à ma communauté et montrer que c’est la ville que je veux représenter pis c’est ma ville à moi.
How did it feel to be selected as team captain alongside Tanya Boychuk? Especially as someone born and raised in Quebec.
MS: Honestly, when I learned I was team captain with Tanya, for me it was an honour because it was a sign of trust from the staff and from the players. And being there with Tanya is perfect because she is someone who will really combine well with me. Sometimes she’s going to be a bigger voice in the locker room. As I am sometimes more of a calm voice. I think we complement each other, and I think that’s something really awesome.
Et d’être ici et de représenter, enfin, ma ville en plus d’avoir ce signe-là sur moi. Ça fait en sorte que je sens que je représente vraiment bien, en fait, les valeurs du club. De ce qu’ils veulent de moi, je pense que je le fais à la lettre. C’est pour ça que c’est un honneur, là. Mais pour moi, à chaque jour s’est d’arriver et de donner l’exemple de travailler au maximum. Puis aider aussi les jeunes qui grandissent qui veulent arriver où je suis. Je pense que c’est juste de les épauler là-dedans.
MS: When I moved to Portugal, the first culture shock I noticed on the field was the way they spoke to each other, which was an aggressive type of way. I had to get a hold of it cause it wasn't really like that here [Quebec]. So I got used to how people say things, and I started feeling it and even saying it how they would say it.
Culture-wise, I think they’re so in love with soccer, and I think that’s something that stayed with me. So I was hoping I could bring it back here.
You played for Valadares Gaia and later Sporting Lisbon. Were there any challenges, and what did you learn from it?
MS: My first club in Portugal was Valadares. The main challenge coming into this team is that it’s a small club with not a lot of infrastructure, so I kind of had to do the best with what you have. And you would have to play against these big teams like Benfica, and you have half of what they have. And we still had to make it a good run. With Sporting, obviously, a bigger club and more organized. My challenge there was that I was facing international stars and players. The competition was really high. So I had to adapt to the level of speed during training.
What does it mean to you to come back home and be a part of the Roses?
MS: De revenir à la maison et puis de représenter ma ville et ma province. C’est quelque chose qui est extrêmement important pour moi. Parce que c’est là où j’ai été formé. Tous les apprentissages que j’ai eus, c’est ici où je les ai eus. C’est ma façon de redonner à tous ce qu’on m’a donné dans mon passé et mon apprentissage. Je pense que c’est juste une belle façon de redonner à ma communauté et montrer que c’est la ville que je veux représenter pis c’est ma ville à moi.
How did it feel to be selected as team captain alongside Tanya Boychuk? Especially as someone born and raised in Quebec.
MS: Honestly, when I learned I was team captain with Tanya, for me it was an honour because it was a sign of trust from the staff and from the players. And being there with Tanya is perfect because she is someone who will really combine well with me. Sometimes she’s going to be a bigger voice in the locker room. As I am sometimes more of a calm voice. I think we complement each other, and I think that’s something really awesome.
Et d’être ici et de représenter, enfin, ma ville en plus d’avoir ce signe-là sur moi. Ça fait en sorte que je sens que je représente vraiment bien, en fait, les valeurs du club. De ce qu’ils veulent de moi, je pense que je le fais à la lettre. C’est pour ça que c’est un honneur, là. Mais pour moi, à chaque jour s’est d’arriver et de donner l’exemple de travailler au maximum. Puis aider aussi les jeunes qui grandissent qui veulent arriver où je suis. Je pense que c’est juste de les épauler là-dedans.
«Tous les apprentissages que j’ai eus, c’est ici où je les ai eus. C’est ma façon de redonner à tous ce qu’on m’a donné dans mon passé et mon apprentissage.»
What have you learned from your leadership position? Have there been any challenges?
MS: I think what I learned the most was coming into a team with really young players instead of older ones. I really had to help out and really sometimes be the voice of the people who have less experience than me and help them see the pathway. That is one challenge I’ve seen this year. And also, even though I have challenges on the field, off the field, I gotta make sure that with the team it’s always positive. It’s always the voice of hope, and we go into this in a positive manner. That’s one challenge I bring to myself every day, but right now, with the help of other leaders, I think it’s going really well.
Off the pitch, are there any passions or hobbies that bring you back to center?
MS: I am somebody who likes the outdoors. Up north, there are a lot of mountains I really like to go hike. So sometimes I will go with my friend Lorie Thibault, on the team, she really likes to hike as well. So on off days, we will just go there and see the outdoors, especially in winter, we love that too. Spending time with family I think that’s something that can really center me. Every time I go and see them where they live in the South Shore, see my dog, it’s really nice moment with my family that helps get centred.
What would be your ideal summer weekend? And who are you spending that time with?
MS: Je pense que mon week-end de rêve, si je ne travaille pas ce week-end-là, c’est d’aller avec des amis, peut-être de louer un chalet au nord et de juste profiter du week-end. Saint-Sauveur, Mont-Tremblant c’est des villes où j’aimes aller quand j’ai du temps parce qu’il y a beaucoup de chose a faire. Tu peux te promener. Il y a plein de boutiques, plein d’aires. Je pense à faire un mélange de tout ça. Ça, c’est mon week-end parfait.
MS: I think what I learned the most was coming into a team with really young players instead of older ones. I really had to help out and really sometimes be the voice of the people who have less experience than me and help them see the pathway. That is one challenge I’ve seen this year. And also, even though I have challenges on the field, off the field, I gotta make sure that with the team it’s always positive. It’s always the voice of hope, and we go into this in a positive manner. That’s one challenge I bring to myself every day, but right now, with the help of other leaders, I think it’s going really well.
Off the pitch, are there any passions or hobbies that bring you back to center?
MS: I am somebody who likes the outdoors. Up north, there are a lot of mountains I really like to go hike. So sometimes I will go with my friend Lorie Thibault, on the team, she really likes to hike as well. So on off days, we will just go there and see the outdoors, especially in winter, we love that too. Spending time with family I think that’s something that can really center me. Every time I go and see them where they live in the South Shore, see my dog, it’s really nice moment with my family that helps get centred.
What would be your ideal summer weekend? And who are you spending that time with?
MS: Je pense que mon week-end de rêve, si je ne travaille pas ce week-end-là, c’est d’aller avec des amis, peut-être de louer un chalet au nord et de juste profiter du week-end. Saint-Sauveur, Mont-Tremblant c’est des villes où j’aimes aller quand j’ai du temps parce qu’il y a beaucoup de chose a faire. Tu peux te promener. Il y a plein de boutiques, plein d’aires. Je pense à faire un mélange de tout ça. Ça, c’est mon week-end parfait.
«Il y a beaucoup de filles dans l’équipe qui viennent d’ici, donc d’aller vraiment se battre pour d’où on vient, je pense que c’est quelque chose qu’il y a de plus important que ça vient du cœur.»
Leading up to the second leg at Toronto, what does it mean to represent Montreal in the inaugural play-off season of the NSL? Especially against rivals AFC Toronto.
MS: Je pense que de représenter Montréal dans la première série éliminatoire de la NSL, c’est quelque chose qui est extrêmement important pour nous. C’était notre objectif. Donc, le fait qu’on l’ait accompli, ça, c’est mission accomplie pour nous, mais après, je pense que, à Montréal, ce sont des gens qui sont fiers. Il y a beaucoup de filles dans l’équipe qui viennent d’ici, donc d’aller vraiment se battre pour d’où on vient, je pense que c’est quelque chose qu’il y a de plus important que ça vient du cœur.
And we’re playing against AFC, obviously a very good team. I think Toronto vs. Montreal is a very good DARBY in any sport. I think the people will enjoy the good football. Because it’s a really fast-paced game against them, and I think it will be a good show. For us, it’s the game we love to play.
Since you lived in Portugal, I must ask, pasteis de natas or tarte au sucre? If you’re not into sweets, would you rather have a bifana sandwich or a smoked meat sandwich?
MS: I really like sweets and I really like sweets from here [Quebec], I'd rather have a tarte au sucre, especially if it’s maple, cause I really like the flavours from here. But if we’re going savoury, I’d say a bifana, there’s not much that beats it.
MS: Je pense que de représenter Montréal dans la première série éliminatoire de la NSL, c’est quelque chose qui est extrêmement important pour nous. C’était notre objectif. Donc, le fait qu’on l’ait accompli, ça, c’est mission accomplie pour nous, mais après, je pense que, à Montréal, ce sont des gens qui sont fiers. Il y a beaucoup de filles dans l’équipe qui viennent d’ici, donc d’aller vraiment se battre pour d’où on vient, je pense que c’est quelque chose qu’il y a de plus important que ça vient du cœur.
And we’re playing against AFC, obviously a very good team. I think Toronto vs. Montreal is a very good DARBY in any sport. I think the people will enjoy the good football. Because it’s a really fast-paced game against them, and I think it will be a good show. For us, it’s the game we love to play.
Since you lived in Portugal, I must ask, pasteis de natas or tarte au sucre? If you’re not into sweets, would you rather have a bifana sandwich or a smoked meat sandwich?
MS: I really like sweets and I really like sweets from here [Quebec], I'd rather have a tarte au sucre, especially if it’s maple, cause I really like the flavours from here. But if we’re going savoury, I’d say a bifana, there’s not much that beats it.