In this week leading up to her induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Caroline Ouellette has some nerves in her sails. Requests are pouring in from all sides. She also has a speech to write. “I feel like I’m getting married,” she writes with a laughing emoji when asked if she’s available for an interview. While waiting for her call, La Presse gave the floor to some of her former teammates…
“It’s so well deserved, both for the career she’s had and the teammate she’s been. Her entire post-career, too… She is a woman who has had such an impact as a player, as a captain and, now, as a leader. I had the chance to play all my years on the national team with Caro. I saw her grow and evolve. What has always impressed me is his dedication. His great passion for hockey made those years so enjoyable. We have experienced so many beautiful and great things. For me, Caroline is a strong woman who exudes a lot of confidence. She knew how to make her place and, above all, leave her mark on several generations over the years. And she continues to do it in such a beautiful way.
“We experienced our first camp together in 1998. What was beautiful to experience was our first World Championship. We were both rookies. We arrived in an impressive environment. We supported each other. [There are also] the three Olympic Games that we had the chance to experience together; we trained for six, seven months together before the Games. All the girls were moving to Calgary to train. We did this together three times. We experienced beautiful things. »
“It’s not just because of everything she’s achieved on the ice, it’s off the ice as well. She is one of the great ambassadors of women’s hockey in Quebec, and even in Canada and internationally. Everything she does for women’s hockey is incredible. We just have to look at her hockey camp, which she now organizes with Marie-Philip Poulin, but also her Women’s Hockey Celebration in December each year. She is able to go to the Bell Center for young players, to play a final at the Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament… Now, because of her influence, there is a women’s category at the Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament! These are small things that she does, which have big impacts on women’s hockey. For me, he is an inspiration, a model. I was truly blessed to be able to play with her, but also to work with her. »
“[Caro] is the greatest legend I have encountered so far in my professional and even academic world. He’s an example to follow since we were very young. When I was able to play alongside her, she continued to develop herself, in addition to developing all the players around her. At the same time, she developed women’s hockey in a grandiose way from the beginning. The sport wouldn’t be where it is now without her. That’s for sure.
“All the jokes we had in the locker room or on the bus… [I remember when] we went to karaoke together after practice on Thursday nights with our team. It was called [the Bar] Salt and Pepper, it was fun to see the whole gang. When she played with the Montreal Canadiennes, she was as much a part of the team, even with everything she had accomplished before. She is an excellent leader. »