For those of you who didn’t have time to attend the Montreal Film Festival over the summer or haven’t been following the Montreal Stars as closely as you could, Jessica Desjardins has your back. A photographer and documentarian, Desjardins spent a chunk of last season in the dressing room with the Stars, the women’s professional team in Montreal.

While these women play on an elite level, many of them having been repeat visitors (and gold-medal winners) at the Olympics, their game is ignored in favor of the men’s. Desjardins has been clear that she wanted to bring attention to just that, and develop an awareness of the Stars, contributing to their growing fanbase. “The goal was to shoot girls who play hockey and are passionate [about the sport]. I wanted to show how there is a great lack of recognition and visibility for this team. It is always in the shadow of the Montreal Canadiens,” Desjardins said in an interview with La Bible Urbane.

“Taking into account the number of people attending our matches I believe many think women’s hockey is boring, [that] the game isn’t as fast-paced, men’s games are more exciting. We’re constantly attacked by false stereotypes. People would be amazed by the calibre, swiftness and beauty of our game if they’d just give us a chance,” says a player in the documentary.

Many of the women on the Montreal Stars are repeat visitors to the Olympics and won gold last winter in Sochi.

The film showcases the emotion these athletes pour into their sport, and the reality of their situation. Many, if not all, work day jobs and train at night in order to afford to play hockey professionally. “Our ultimate goal is to be paid as professional hockey players like the men, but no, we’re still fundraising,” an unnamed Star says in the documentary.

The entire league — comprised of four teams: the Montreal Stars, the Toronto Furies, the Boston Blades and the Calgary Inferno — operates on a budget of $1 million, which is roughly the same amount as an entry NHL player earns in a season. They fundraise in order to pay their coaches, buy equipment, ice time, and so on. Their games are poorly attended and they still train, practice, play, and give large amounts of their time to developing youth interest in the women’s game.

However, despite their passion, their time and effort, women’s games are still historically ignored by the media and the average viewer alike. As such, the teams are caught in a vicious cycle: they have no money and so cannot advertise or hire marketers to draw fans. Without exposure and new fans, no new money comes in. Desjardins believes she has an answer to that: a partnership with the NHL and the funding that would come with such a partnership.

“We need men’s hockey to give a little so the women’s teams can really play. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs help the Furies [the women’s team in Toronto] both financially and logistically,” Desjardins says in the same interview linked above. “Hopefully the Canadiens can assist the Stars in the same way. There is room for everyone.”

You can watch the documentary online, or catch Montreal games in-person or online at the CWHL’s website.