We’ve been talking about it for a long time: Gatineau Olympiques goaltender Eve Gascon will finally get her first MJHL start tomorrow, becoming the first woman in 22 years to play a game on the Courteau circuit.
• Read also: Ben Chiarot traded to the Panthers
• Read also: Back to the front row
Olympiques head coach Louis Robitaille has confirmed that he will send Gascon into the fray in the first of two games in two days against the Rimouski Océanic at the Slush Puppie centre.
“Looking at our schedule, we play five games in eight days, including two at the weekend. Emerik [Despatie] can’t play them all. We saw how she behaved in practice and after a week, the time has come to give her a start,” said Robitaille.
The latter knew that by making this announcement, media attention would turn to Gatineau for a few days. Moreover, the Olympiques preferred not to make her available for interviews yesterday and she will speak to the media this morning at the end of the team’s training.
“We don’t put our heads in the sand: it won’t be a match like the others for her. It will be historic and we want to try to remove as many distractions as possible.
“One thing is certain, she is a QMJHL caliber goaltender and she deserves her departure. I have blind faith in her. »
A few hundred kilometers from Gatineau, in the SaintLaurent borough, Timothy Archambault did not fall out of his chair when he learned that Eve Gascon would become the first woman since Charline Labonté, on November 25, 2000, to take going to a QMJHL game.
The head coach of the Cégep Saint-Laurent Patriotes, for whom Gascon plays, was able to see the progress of the 18-year-old goalkeeper.
“Eve, since her arrival with us, has not stopped progressing. She became a dominant goaltender in our league, earning her an invite to the All-Star Game before Christmas. Since November, she has been very dominant and she deserves this opportunity at the next level. »
TWO YEARS OF WAIT
After having recruited her at the end of her M18 AAA internship, at the end of the 20192020 season, Archambault had to wait almost two years before seeing Gascon in the uniform of the Patriots since last season was canceled due to the pandemic.
Even so, in training he was already able to see his potential.
“When we saw her at Esther-Blondin (M18 AAA), she stole matches on her own. We were really happy to recruit her and we knew she was going to be good. Unfortunately, we didn’t play last year, but we had the chance to do individual sessions on the ice and she came to train with our goalkeeper coach three times a week. You could see her progress and it wasn’t hard to project that she was going to be dominant. I would say this year is the top of the league. »
INTEGRATION
Gascon did not take long to integrate into the dressing room of the Patriots.
“He’s a very good person. She is always smiling and she gets along well with everyone. He’s a super easy person to be around. On the ice, she is a very talented goalkeeper, but also a competitor. She makes sure to fight every throw which makes it difficult for the players. The guys appreciate his work ethic. She is one of our leaders this season. »
A description of the person that does not surprise Louis Robitaille.
“She always has a smile on her face. Eve is Eve. We see his personality. She is a competitor and a very receptive girl. She is only 18 years old and for us it is to help her continue on her way and perfect her game.