Miles Morrisseau
ICT
It was “Roque versus Larocque” in the finals of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and Abby Roque came out on top.
The two Indigenous women have faced off in the past as representatives of their countries in international competition.
Roque is Anishinaabe from Wahnapitae First Nation, represented on Team USA and was assistant captain for the Montreal Victoire.
Jocelyne Larocque, Red River Metis, plays defense for the Ottawa Charge and is the most decorated Indigenous winter Olympian in history, with two golds and two silvers as a member of Team Canada.
The night literally belonged to Roque who scored the first and second goals of the game for Montreal. It was all they needed to secure the 4-0 win and hoist the Walter Cup as the champions of professional women’s hockey. The second goal was spectacular with Roque picking up a pass at the blue line, racing in and deking out the Ottawa goaltender.
Montreal was penalized at the time so the goal resulted in a “jailbreak,” a unique feature of the league and an element that adds a lot of action to the game. In the women’s league when a team scores short handed, or has one less player on the ice, the person in the penalty box gets out early, hence the “jailbreak.”
Following the victory, Roque was asked to describe what the win feels like.
“So much love for this group, the things we battled through during this playoffs were just out of this world,” Roque said. “The amount of heart on this team. I just, I love everybody and I couldn’t be prouder.”
The first game of the five-game series went into overtime with Roque scoring the winner in that game. Montreal tied the game with seconds left on the clock and their net empty.
“Today felt better with the four nothing [lead],” Roque said. “The first one was a little dramatic for sure. But it feels so so good.”
Roque gave a shout out to all the supporters who have had her back on this journey.
“All my friends and family, I mean that they’re the best supporters,” Roque said. “A lot of them couldn’t be here today on a Wednesday but they’ve been travelling trying to make it to every game I couldn’t be more grateful.”
In the press conference following the loss Larocque praised her team and her teammates.
“This team has so much like love for each other we have so much fun with each other,” Larocque said. “This truly is a group I won’t forget, I love these girls so much, the staff, everyone and I just feel like immensely proud to be a Charge.”
Roque was traded to Montreal just over a year ago from the New York Sirens and fit right into the culture of her new team.
“It (was) really easy to meld into this group because they are just the best people around,” Roque said. “Every single day they give their heart out of the ice, in strength and conditioning work out everything they do they do 100 percent. They welcomed me with open arms and I couldn’t be happier.”
This is the third year for the Professional Women’s Hockey League championships and ironically with a member of Team USA leading the way, this is the first championship for a Canadian team.