Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes
The College Notre-Dame girls' hockey team is looking to relive
last year's glory as they head to OFSAA in pursuit of a gold
for the second year in a row.
The Alouettes girls' division one hockey team is the defending
OFSAA champion from last year in A/AA hockey, and currently
hold a perfect record for this season, including capturing the
city and NOSSA championships. During the undefeated streak, the
girls have recorded 130 goals for, and only 17 against.
"We have a really solid team. It's not going to be easy, it's
going to be tougher than it was last year but if we work hard,
we can persevere and do it," said the team's assistant coach
Denis Piquette.
"We control the puck really well. We pass well, we skate well.
It's really difficult for other teams to take the puck away
from us."
Piquette said the last time a hockey team from Sudbury won gold
medals back-to-back at OFSAA, was in 1953-54 by Copper Cliff
High.
"This year our focus ... is to to repeat. We're in a position
to defend and maybe win OFSAA gold again," Piquette said.
Last year the girls dedicated the OFSAA tournament and win to
their head coach J.C Davis' late wife Lise, who passed away
from cancer during the season.
"She was like the team mom, she was really involved with the
team. The girls ... wanted to win it for her," said the
assistant coach.
Members of the team said it felt good to have been able to
accomplish the win in Lise's memory.
"I think she would have been really happy," said Valerie
Valiquette, the team's captain. She said Lise had been involved
with the team for quite some time.
"She was always there for games and practices, so I think she
would have been really proud of us."
While the girls were proud of their success, they said there's
the added pressure of winning the double gold that goes with
it. And while the team members are confident, they
acknowledged the competition is going to be tough and that they
will have to be on top of their game .
"Just cause we won last year doesn't mean we're going to walk
over everyone this year. It's not the same," said Danielle
Rancourt, an Alouette defender. The team members acknowledged
the competition is going to be tough and know they will have to
be on top of their game.
Many girls on the team also play for the Sudbury Lady Wolves
and practice three to five times a week. Defender Stephanie
Bonin said the team has a lot of chemistry, which adds to their
success.
The assistant coach said with all the hard work the girls have
put in, he would like to see the support of the community in
the team's drive for a second OFSAA gold.
"We'd like to get the community to rally behind us, because
girls hockey has always taken a backseat to boys (hockey),"
Piquette said.
He added many of the girls are also on the honour role at the
high school and play with the hopes of earning a scholarship.
"It would be nice ... for people to realize that these girls
play not only for the love of the sport, but in the hopes of
furthering their education."
Piquette said he's proud of these girls and even to make it to
OFSAA is a reward in itself.
While the team has bonded and friendships have been made,
Rancourt said she particularly likes the celebration that
immediately follows winning a major tournament.
"There's no better feeling than when you win the championship
and you throw everything (gloves and sticks in the air) - you
get such a rush," she said with a smile. "I always like that
part."
This will be the fifth OFSAA competition for the Alouettes,
with a silver and a gold already under their belt.
"It's the Stanley cup of high school sports," Piquette said.
While last year's inspiration for the win had more of an
emotional purpose, this year the team wants to win it for the
community.
"We'd like to do it for Sudbury...do it for ourselves, too,"
said Bonin.
This year's OFSAA tournament will be held in Orillia from March
23-27.
