All eyes were on Gatineau on Saturday afternoon. If the outside temperature was gloomy, it was quite the opposite inside the walls of the Slush Puppie Centre, crowded for the first time in its young history. The reason ? Eve Gascon.
Posted at 7:17 p.m.
Updated at 8:41 p.m.
In a 5-4 overtime loss, the young goaltender in red leggings became the first woman since Charline Labonté in 2000 to keep goal in a regular Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) game. She faced the Océanic de Rimouski.
“Of course I was a little disappointed to have lost, but that’s part of the game and it could have gone either way. But I’m proud of what I did,” the 18-year-old athlete hinted to the many media waiting for him after the game.
“It was really fun to live. I will remember this all my life,” she added.
At 3:30 p.m., Gascon, Olympiques jersey number 37 on his back, jumped on the ice for the warm-up. The few hundred spectators already on site gave him a heartfelt first round of applause. Half an hour later, the gate got a standing ovation when the house announcer called her name as he announced the starting line-up.
Throughout the duel, each time the goalkeeper blocked a shot, the supporters showed up with ardor, as if to say: we are behind you.
“It was loud, so I could hear it, laughed the main concerned. I had chills a little, but I tried to stay focused to go for the victory. »
The head coach of the Gatineau troupe, Louis Robitaille, had only good words for his goalkeeper, who has been at the center of strong – the word is weak – media attention in recent days. .
“I’m extremely proud of Eve,” he said. I had chills for her hearing the crowd. Usually I don’t go to see the warm-up, but I wanted to see how she felt, how she reacted. Before leaving, I reminded her to have fun, and she did so throughout the evening. »
His reminder did not fall on deaf ears.
“I tried to have fun even if I put a lot of pressure on myself,” explained Gascon. But I had fun playing. »
Quality shots
Ultimately, Ève Gascon blocked 18 of the 23 shots aimed at her. Eight long minutes passed before she faced her first puck. It was a powerful and precise shot from Julien Béland in a three-on-two downhill that ended up above his left shoulder. The hearts of the approximately 5,000 supporters present were a little torn on the spot. It was 1-0 Oceanic.
The Rimouski then took advantage of a power play to make it 2-0 on their fourth shot. No question, for Robitaille, of blaming her goalkeeper: she faced “quality chances”.
“It was a tough game for a goaltender: lots of power plays, slot chances, deflected shots… It took a while for the first pitch. We were hoping for a clearance on her early in the game to give her confidence, he said. You have the nerves that come into play. The more time went by on the board, the more I couldn’t wait for her to have her first pitch. »
“I started with two goals when I left, so it was definitely difficult mentally,” said Gascon. I wanted to win this game, but I’m still happy with what I did today. »
After two periods, the Olympiques trailed 3-2. But the team got up in the third period. Donovan Arsenault equalized the score after five minutes of play. A few minutes later, Mathieu Bizier gave the Gatineau team the lead for the first time in the game on a power play. The ground shook with the shouts of the crowd.
Gascon, no doubt energized by the rise of her own, stood up to two dangerous opposing attempts in the middle of the third period, provoking the “Gascon! Gascon! Gascon! in the amphitheater.
“The more the match progressed, the more I was confident,” she said. I was more out of my net too. the coach guards came to see me between periods to help me, give me little advice […]. The guys have been really good in front of me. They didn’t leave many pitches. »
Alexander Gaudio, however, tied the game 4-4 with just over five minutes left in the game. Xavier Cormier ended the debate quickly in overtime with a shot into the top of the net during a two-on-one run.
Louis Robitaille specified that he would meet Gascon on Sunday to see what will be next for her with the organization. “We will see her again with us,” he assured. Everything will depend on the state of health of Rémi Poirier.
“I don’t know what awaits me, but if they need me, I’ll be ready,” said the native of Terrebonne, smiling.
parental pride
Aware of buzz surrounding their daughter’s first game in the QMJHL, Caroline Dupuis and Stéphane Gascon were both excited and nervous a few hours before the game. With reason.
A record crowd of nearly 5,000 people was expected at the Slush Puppie Centre. The spotlight was on the 18-year-old goalkeeper.
“Have you seen the jerseys of the arena employees?” It says: “Bravo Eve!” », Caroline Dupuis points out to us, pride in her voice, before settling down for an interview with The Press between the walls of the amphitheater.
“I find it fun for her to be able to receive this attention,” says Mr. Gascon. But it’s always special to see her on TV, in an interview. »
Ève Gascon was in the middle of a FaceTime session with her parents when she received the call, with a capital A, from the head coach of the Olympiques, Louis Robitaille, in the middle of the week.
“She said to me: ‘Wait, I’ll call you back, Louis is on the other line,’ says Ms.me Dupuis. She hung up. She called me back and she was smiling ear to ear, her eyes watery. I said: “You are the one who is goalie!” She said yes !” And there she was crying. She was super happy. She realizes the magnitude, but not so much at the same time. »
The young athlete has come a long way. She experienced the disappointment of not being drafted two years ago. His parents remember him very well.
“The following year, she hoped to be invited to a camp. She was not. At that point, she thought to herself, “That will never happen.” He was told, “It’s not going to happen, and that’s okay. It would have been fun, but it’s not gonna happen, so move on and set some other goals.” »
It was only a year later, last September, that she was invited to the Olympiques training camp. The guardian was up to expectations, and not just a little. She was returned to the Patriotes at Cégep Saint-Laurent, where she is having an excellent season.
“Her percentage of efficiency, she comes sick,” says Mr. Gascon with a smile.
Anyway, among the Gascons, there is no question of putting pressure.
“If it doesn’t work out and it doesn’t go well [aujourd’hui], it will not be fun tomorrow, but it will still be an experience, suggests the father of the family. Her preparation, how she handled it, is not lost. »
“It remains that his goal is to win the gold medal with Canada against the Americans. That’s the goal! »
Anyone wanna bet?