(From the Stanstead College yearbook)
We had a 64 game schedule this season. We went undefeated in our league and won the playoffs for the 3rd time in a row. Although we fell short in the big tournaments, we did have some pretty memorable wins this season, like our games against two of the top US prep schools, winning all of those games in true Stanstead College hockey fashion.
When you spend as much time as we do together you learn quite a bit, like: how big tournaments have tough schedules but locker room dance parties at 7:00am are the best way to prepare; refs need a refresher on the rules of a shootout; not to drink someone else's Starbucks; and how if we never see a Pita Pit again it will be too soon. Oh and we can't forget Tam's excitement is there was bacon at breakfast.
This season was a roller coaster of emotions, a season that has changed us all in one way or another. Negativity is unfortunately easy to fall into and can consume you over time; so for that reason I choose not to focus on the negativity but rather to embrace the positives of this group of girls. I choose to remember:
How Charlie and Alex came here lacking confidence and not really being sure who they were and leave us with a true sense of confidence in themselves, as leaders and with a voice.
Or girls like Rosie and Alexie who accepted that they needed to change and trusted us to help them get there, and today they are great leaders for their team and school and genuinely positive for the right reasons.
And there are plenty others, with similar stories. It's not easy to recognize that we all have self-improvement to do and on even harder road to make a change. I am so proud for all of you who have embraced the opportunity Stanstead has given you to grow.
Any team has a lot of pieces to its puzzle in order to make it work and be successful. Therefore, my last thank you goes to the biggest piece of our puzzle Coach V.
Words simply do not do justice for how much Miss. V has given to this program and players. Lou Holtz College Hall fame football coach said: "I won't accept anything less than the best a player's capable of doing, and they have the right to expect the best that 1 can do for them and the team"
Coach V. without a doubt gave you all her all each and every day to make you the best person and player you could possibly be, whether it was by pushing you on the ice, giving you the best practices or by telling you what you needed to hear but didn't want to and holding you accountable on and off the ice. She knew what it took for you to reach your goals and trust me when I soy no one wonted your dreams to come true more than Miss V.
(From the Stanstead College website, November 15th)
Athlete of the week: Maude Poulin-Labelle
At this past weekend’s CCM Invitational World Tournament in Detroit, Michigan, Maude Poulin-Labelle was simply outstanding. Offensively she was a constant threat, using her aggressiveness and exceptional speed to keep opposing defenses consistently on their heels. And defensively she may have been even better, covering up mistakes and sacrificing her body throughout the defensive zone, i.e. one second she would be battling in the corner, then the next she would be battling in the other corner, and then in the NEXT second she would be in front of the next blocking a shot. This Grade 12 student from Sherbrooke, Que. was all over the ice in all five games and skated harder than some players combined. For her relentless attitude, for playing over 30 minutes per game and for giving everything to her team all tournament long, we are thrilled to name Maude this week’s Athlete of the Week. Congratulations!
(From the Stanstead College website, December 4th)
Athlete of the week: Tamara Thierus
Tamara Thierus showed a lot of character in our tournament this weekend, earning her Co-Athlete of the Week honours. She was a motivator for her team, she held her teammates accountable, she sacrificed her body in the corners and her work ethic was impeccable. You could truly tell that Tamara was playing for her team and not herself. On top of all that Tamara was lights out with her play, dominant on the ice with her speed and a consistent offensive threat. She made something happen every time she was on the ice. On Sunday after one of her shifts she came to the bench and said “the other team is not very fast”; her coaches replied “no Tam you are just that fast”. We are very proud of the progression Tamara has made both on and off the ice, as she is truly dedicated to the success of the team. Congratulations, Tamara!
(From the Stanstead College website, December 11th)
Hitting their stride... selectively
This past Saturday’s visit by the Selects Academy U19 team was certain to offer a stern test for the Stanstead College varsity girls hockey team.
The Rochester-based team boasted 13 NCAA commits to such hockey powers as Yale, Princeton, UVM, Colgate, UNH and Bemidji. What’s more, all of the Selects were in either Grade 11 or 12. The two games on Saturday posed a formidable challenge to our younger Spartans squad.
Contrary to the past couple of weekends, Stanstead was able to get off to a strong start in Game One at 9 am. After a few jittery moments, the girls shifted into top gear and bore down on the Rochester net.
Laurence Frenette, who continues to improve week by week, got the Spartans on the board in the second period and her goal would prove to be the winner.
A strained knee had shackled Alexie Guay during the past few weeks but she returned to her usual level of dominant play on Saturday, prancing through the Select forecheck to create a flood of scoring opportunities. She ended the game with a goal and assist, earning MVP honours in the 2-0 victory.
Just before Game Two at 3 pm, the Spartans learned that they would be without the services of star centre Rosie Demers, who went down with an ankle injury in the first match. If you are a regular follower of these game reports, you will know what a spectacular season Rosie has been having. Who would step up to fill the void?
Fortunately there would be no shortage of girls up to the task. With Alexie continuing her magnificent play and Alex Gray providing the spark, just as she did in the morning, the team showed no ill effects of the loss of a very key player.
Marianne Picard clicked all afternoon with line mate Catherine Foulem, finishing with both a hat trick and game MVP recognition. Eryn Hinch played the best game of her career, while Julia McLellan was as solid as a rock in net, earning the Hard Hat Award from her teammates.
Final score 3-1.
Honorable mention must also go to Milou Reynolds, who has become a reliable force on the wing. And let’s not forget Hannah Johnson’s remarkable transition from forward to defence. Although a newcomer to the position, it would be easy to think that she’s played there all her life.
The team has a small window of practice time over the next two days before hitting the road for a showcase event in New Hampshire this Wednesday and Thursday.
After that, the girls will take a hard-earned and well-deserved rest before venturing off campus to Orno, Maine early in the New Year.
(From the Stanstead College website, May 1st)
Bernie Pimm named Varsity Girls hockey coach
Stanstead College is pleased to announce that veteran coach and teacher Bernie Pimm has joined the school as head coach of the Varsity Girls Hockey Spartans.
Mr. Pimm comes to Stanstead College with over 20 years’ experience in coaching, teaching and business. He is also the parent of Stanstead alumna and former Spartans captain Jordyn Pimm, Class of 2016. In addition to coaching the varsity girls, Mr. Pimm will teach humanities and be actively involved in school life.
“Bernie Pimm is a proven coach but also a teacher and a man with much life experience,” said Stanstead’s Director of Hockey Operations James Rioux. “He understands boarding school culture and is the right fit to lead our program. I am confident that he will work diligently for each and every one of our players and fully immerse himself into the Stanstead lifestyle.”
Mr. Pimm inherits a varsity girls hockey team that has won the North American Prep Hockey Association league and playoff title three years running. The Spartans are ranked as one of the top prep school girls teams in Canada.
From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Pimm was head coach of the Ottawa Lady Sens, a junior team in Ontario’s Provincial Women’s Hockey League. In 2017-2018, the Ottawa Lady Sens realized a remarkable turnaround, coming from last place to 7th and earning a first-round PWHL play-off win against the London Devilettes. This was the Lady Sens’ first play-off victory since 2012.
In 2015-2016, Mr. Pimm co-coached the Kanata Lasers U18 Midget AAA, who won the Hockey Eastern Ontario championship. They finished off the season by earning bronze at the Ontario Hockey Federation provincial championship despite having the youngest team in the tournament. That team graduated five OHL, QMJHL draft picks and currently has three NCAA DI scholarship players playing Junior A in Canada.
In 2012-2013, Mr. Pimm served as head coach of Ottawa Lady Sens Bantams.
Mr. Pimm is currently COO and VP Player Advancement for Next Generation HKY & Fitness, an Ottawa skills company that works with the Ottawa 67s, OHL, Ottawa Gee Gees, Carleton Ravens, USports and several elite players in the area. He has also been a coach, scout and recruiter at the BCHL (Vernon Vipers) and WHL (Kamloops Blazers, Regina Pats) levels.
As an HP1 certified coach and NCMP Hockey Canada mentor coach, Mr. Pimm owes the foundation of his experience to Kamloops Minor Hockey and BCAHA’s Program of Excellence, where he worked with some of Canada’s most renown coaches and players. Mr. Pimm has earned a reputation for working tirelessly to support his players, having helped advance well over 100 players to major junior and NCAA levels.
Mr. Pimm has a master’s in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University, has been married to Shannon Pimm for the last 24 years and has three children, including former Stanstead College Varsity Girls Hockey captain Jordyn Pimm, currently playing NCAA DI hockey for Lindenwood University.
Bernie and his family are excited to bring their passion and experience to Stanstead College.
“Knowing first-hand from Jordy’s time there the hard work and dedication that the hockey staff has put into this program, I am humbled and honoured to serve Stanstead’s championship culture,” said Mr. Pimm. “I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to teach at such a great school and coach these driven, passionate, successful players.”
(From the Stanstead College website, May 25th)
Corie Jacobson joins girls hockey coaching staff
Stanstead College is pleased to announce the hiring of Corie Jacobson as assistant coach for the Varsity Girls Hockey Spartans.
Ms. Jacobson is a 2017 graduate of Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY, where she helped the women’s hockey team win the NCAA Division I national championship in her senior year. A native of Warren, Ontario, Ms. Jacobson is fluently bilingual and has a major in Sociology with a minor in Psychology.
In addition to her success as a defenceman at Clarkson, Ms. Jacobson is also a former member of Hockey Canada’s U18 team (world champions 2013) and Team Ontario U18 (national champions 2012). She spent the 2017-18 season in Germany playing professional hockey and coaching clinics for young players.
“We’re excited to welcome Corie to Stanstead College. She is a smart and well-spoken individual who will complement our coaching staff,” said Stanstead’s Director of Hockey Operations James Rioux. “I am confident that Corie will connect with both the players on our girls team as well as everyone in our school community. Her positive and friendly nature were evident from the moment we first started discussing the opportunity to come to Stanstead.”
In addition to joining the coaching staff along with head coach Bernie Pimm, Ms. Jacobson will teach as well as work in the Admissions and Athletics Departments (Hockey Operations).