Olympiques goalie to become 1st woman to start league game in 22 years
Ève Gascon has been in the Gatineau Olympiques' orbit since last August
This weekend, Ève Gascon is slated to become the first woman to play in a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game in more than two decades.
She'll be netminding for the Gatineau Olympiques in their home game late Saturday afternoon against the Rimouski Océanic at the Slush Puppie Centre.
"I'm just going to play my game, go save by save, minute by minute and just be me. It's just a hockey game, so I know I'm able to play hockey," she said at a press conference Friday.
A woman hasn't played in the league since 2000, when goaltender Charline Labonté last skated for Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
The 18-year-old Gascon has been in the Olympiques' system since last August. She's been participating in warm-ups recently while her Montreal CEGEP team is on its spring break, but hadn't obtained a start until Saturday.
Gascon spent the week practicing with the Olympiques to improve her game. Mid-way through, she was told by the coach she was going to get the chance to start.
"He told me I was going to be in the net Saturday and I started crying. I was very happy, I'm very excited to start Saturday," she said.
The Olympiques have had problems in net since their top goaltender Rémi Poirier suffered a leg injury March 3. The team has announced he'll be out for two to four weeks.
Emerik Despatie took over and has allowed 21 goals in his last five outings.
With files from Radio-Canada's Jonathan Jobin