2016-2017

(From the Stanstead College yearbook)

I wish to thank the players for putting their trust in us, your coaches. I know we challenge you to the point where you can't breathe, or to the point where you wonder if you're still good at hockey, when I'm in your face, for example. We challenge you to the point where you wonder if this is the right place for you, when I'm not satisfied even though we just won a game. Or to the point where you can't feel your legs, during workouts with Mr. Underhill. We challenge you to the point that you cry and call home or cry to your friends, when I call you out in front of your teammates because you were not being a team-first player.

The list goes on and on of different ways we've challenged you this season. And you know what? We might have won 42 out of 50 games, we might have 10 university-committed players, but that's not what I'm most proud of.

What I'm most proud of is that you found ways to get through those challenges. You did not give up when it was tough, you found ways to get through it. You did not find excuses to skip on the challenges, you embraced them. You told yourself that you were not part of an ordinary team, and teams that aren't ordinary have to be challenged in bigger ways and have to find ways to overcome the challenges. That's what you did, not only in games, but day in and day out.

I wish the world could see how focused, on task and determined you all are when you practice, workout and play. You are far from being an ordinary team. The best thing is that you did all this while having a blast together. I know you all complain and cry and think about quitting the team, but the reality is you don't quit because you recognize that toughness is what makes it great. You recognize that it is actually a blessing to be challenged like you are, because most people will never have the chance to truly be challenged to your limits.

I knew you started to embrace challenges when you began asking more of each other on your own. Instead of being quiet during games and practices, you started cheering on each other when we weren't playing up to our potential: "Come on, girls!" You cared, and it was important for you to play to your potential as a team.

You're definitely the team I have had the most fun coaching and the team that I've seen having the most fun together. You've all definitely made the most out of this season and you've grown tremendously.

We've challenged you because being challenged is real life. Having doubts in yourself and finding a way out of it is real life. Crying one night and going to work the next day is real life. But this year, you've proven that you're bigger and better than real life, because you actually embrace challenges and you thrive on them. You are an extraordinary team! And I'll tell you this: I have been part of many teams in my life, and I can guarantee you that this one was special. It will be one that you remember forever!

(From la Tribune, September 24th)

(From the Record, September 28th)

(From la Tribune, December 30th)

(From the Record, March 1st)

(From la Tribune, March 8th)