The Aigles Bleues of the Université de Moncton will present a transformed team when activities resume at the Jean-Louis-Lévesque Arena this fall.
This will be particularly visible on the attack, where only four veterans will be back, namely Isadora Quirion, Janie Poitras, Alexia Desforges and Jessica Turbide.
This week, Marc-André Côté confirmed the entry on the scene of Janique Lamoureux, a tall 5-foot-11-inch Ontarian who fills a need on the left flank in the attack.
“She’s a girl who has never stopped improving over the past three years,” says the Bleu et Or head coach. “It’s normally a sign that she still hasn’t reached her limit. At the same time, we have just gained weight in the attack. Janique has a lot of tools in her safe and I can’t wait to work with her. Already, she has improved her skating stroke a lot with a private trainer. I’m excited about it. ”
Lamoureux, who will not be celebrating her 18th birthday until July 20, already knows full-back Emily Gravelle very well since the two girls played this winter for the Barrie Junior Sharks in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
“I wanted to continue my studies in French and I know that the Aigles Bleues have a very good organization,” said Lamoureux in a press release sent to the media. I’ve heard a lot about team spirit and the fact that the players are close to each other. It’s a unifying team. ”
An excellent athlete, Lamoureux also excelled in high school soccer, volleyball, basketball and badminton. Hockey has its preference, however.
“There is always room for improvement in hockey. You can always work on your skills and you also have to adjust your game and speed with each new level. I hope to bring the Aigles Bleues a good presence in front of the opposing net, aggressiveness and disturb the opponents. This summer I will be training to further improve my strength and agility. I want to be faster and I prepare myself mentally to play and win, ”adds the one who will begin studies in sports physiotherapy in order to eventually work with athletes from sports teams.
Lamoureux joins a cohort of recruits which also includes, in addition to Émily Gravelle, forwards Érica Plourde, Shani Rossignol, Maritza Labrie and Clémence Dumesnil. Another striker, possibly two, could be confirmed within the next week.
Add to that the six rookies of 2020 who still have not played since the last season was canceled due to COVID-19. These girls are goaltender Annick Boudreau, full-backs Stéphanie Péladeau and Émilie Comeau, as well as forwards Vanessa McKinnon, Marika Gagnon and Pénéloppe Ringuette.
“We’re going to have a lot of rookies on the attack, but that doesn’t mean anything, warns Marc-André Côté. I remember that during my first year as a player (2008-2009) with the men’s team, we had about ten rookies up front and that didn’t prevent us from finishing third in the league. “
“We will be very strong in goal with a number of veterans on defense. Our first goalie Audrey Berthiaume will also be well surrounded and our top-4 at the back compares to the best teams with experienced girls like Catherine Longchamps, Cassandra Call, Émilie Lalancette and Pascal Lebeau ”, confides Côté.
In short…
Érica Plourde is the younger sister of former Acadie-Bathurst Titan striker Yan Plourde. She is also cousin with a former star of Bleu et Or, Marie-Hélène Plourde …
Speaking of family, Pénéloppe Ringuette is the cousin of Mika Cyr, who will play for her side for the men’s team of the U of Mr. Maritza Labrie, by his side, is a fourth cousin with two other former Bleu et Or , Mathieu and Kristine Labrie …
Shani Rossignol played this winter with the Buckeyes at Ohio State University. Dissatisfied with her use and feeling that the team’s head coach (Nadine Muzerall) disrespected her, she decided to return to New Brunswick. Marc-André Côté has high hopes for Rossignol and Erica Plourde. Although he intends to give them time to acclimatize to the caliber of play, he sees the two Acadians quickly becoming impactful players in Atlantic university hockey …
– .
