“She is a born leader. A passionate, competitive girl with an incredible work ethic. She listens to others, she wants to contribute to their success. And she is happy with everyone’s success. »
In order for their players to avoid having a big head, some coaches are more circumspect than others when it comes to complimenting their proteges. To talk about Emmy Fecteau, Caroline Ouellette, however, did not display this restraint.
Fecteau, of the Concordia Stingers, won the Isobel Gathorne-Hardy award a few weeks ago, awarded each year by Hockey Canada to the player whose values, leadership and personal qualities make women’s hockey shine the most in the country.
“I see a lot in her what I see in Marie-Philip,” continued Caroline Ouellette, associate coach of the Stingers, who crossed paths on July 22 at the KR Classic, a charity event in which a few dozen players from the professional or academic ranks.
“She’s a kind girl, with a heart in her stomach, who is always there for others; a passionate woman for whom there is never too much practice,” Ouellette continued.
An athlete also who, after noticing how much Canadian players favored short appearances at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, made her teammates aware of this in view of the Canadian Championship a few weeks later. His team responded with a national title and a 13-0 dominance in goals.
During a women’s match presented as part of the KR Classic, Fecteau was called upon to play on the same team as Ouellette and Julie Chu, her head coach at Concordia.
“They’re still capable en masse!” exclaimed Emmy Fecteau, laughing, after the friendly match. “They impressed a lot of people, they’re still really good!” »
The 24-year-old forward didn’t hear Caroline Ouellette’s praise, which saved her from blushing at their mention. She nevertheless described it as “an honor” to have received an award, let alone because it is a “personality” one.
“I must have done that right!” she launched. I was really surprised, I didn’t expect it at all, but it’s fun. It also allows me to represent Saint-Odilon, my native village. »
With 32 points in 23 games last season, she was the Stingers’ leading scorer. In Quebec, only Audrey-Anne Veillette, of the Carabins of the University of Montreal, did better.
Looking ahead to next season, her last in the yellow and burgundy uniform, the new captain wants to win back the Canadian championship so, she says, “we can recover from our loss this year”. The Stingers lost in overtime in the 2023 final to the Mount Royal Cougars.
“We’re going to be even more motivated,” she promises.
After graduation, logic dictates that she joins the ranks of the new professional women’s league that will come to life next winter. A lot of water must still flow under the bridge, since few details are known about this new circuit resulting from the takeover of the PHF, the league in which the Montreal Force played last season.
Until then, if all goes as she wishes, she will have the chance to make her place in the senior national team. She had done well at the selection camp last summer and hopes to receive an invitation for the camp next September. A selection this time would put her in an advantageous position as the Olympic cycle begins leading to the 2026 Games.
Accustomed to rubbing shoulders with several Olympians at the 21.02 Women’s Hockey High Performance Center in Montreal, she takes nothing for granted. But she can’t stop shooting, still laughing: “I train with all these girls, so I tell myself that I could do it!” »
She has, in any case, everything to get there.
