The prospect and the vet: Primerano, Larocque battle for spots on Canada's Olympic blue line
CBC
When a teenaged Chloe Primerano made her debut on the Canadian women’s hockey team last season, Jocelyne Larocque was often the steady force beside her on the blue line.
Primerano, who was 17 years old at the time, immediately started to soak up wisdom from then-36-year-old Larocque, who’s been on the senior national team since Primerano was four years old.
The first lesson was how dependable Larocque is. She’s built a career doing things right both on and off the ice.
“She's so reliable and just an amazing person, too,” Primerano said in an interview at a Canadian team camp earlier this year.
The veteran also saw plenty of great things from the rookie, who has a hockey IQ well beyond her years. Being Primerano’s defensive partner gave Larocque a close-up view of the young player’s skill, from her shot to her stickhandling.
But that wasn’t her favourite thing about Primerano.
“She's just eager to get better,” Larocque told CBC Sports. “That's what I love the most about her is she's constantly watching, trying to get better, working really hard and giving it all every practice. She's such an exciting player for Canada and we're really lucky to have her.”
Both Larocque and Primerano are working to make the Canadian Olympic team that will look to defend gold in Italy in February.
It would be Primerano’s first Olympics. She would be the youngest to make the team since Marie-Philip Poulin did it in 2010.
For Larocque, it would be her fourth Games, and a chance to add a third gold medal in a storied career.
Both are part of the pool of players that could compete in one final Rivalry Series game against the United States on Saturday night in Edmonton. It could be the last chance to show Canadian GM Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan that they belong on this team.
Both also represent a national team in transition, between a group of veterans who’ve led the team to golden heights and young talent waiting for a chance to shine.
Poulin doesn’t pause when asked if she’s felt Larocque has been underrated throughout her career.
“One hundred per cent,” the captain said.
By the time the management group for the Canadian men’s national hockey team emerges from marathon meetings on Tuesday, as much as 80 per cent of the roster going to Italy next February should be written in pen.
Canada’s ski mountaineering athletes have their Olympic dreams on the line this weekend at a World Cup event in Solitude, Utah.
Goalie Carter Hart, one of five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players acquitted of sexual assault in July, will make his first NHL appearance in nearly two years when he starts in goal Tuesday night for the Vegas Golden Knights, who host Chicago.
The Canadian women’s hockey team will bring back plenty of familiar faces for its final pre-Olympic games in Edmonton next week.
Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the team announced Sunday.