Labonté, who was voted McGill's female athlete of the year in 2008-09 and named the Quebec conference nominee for the 2009 BLG Award for the CIS Athlete of the Year, earned her spot as one of three goalies travelling to Sochi well in advance of the official naming of the team. So while she didn't have to worry about being left off the roster, she worked just as hard as everyone else to prepare for Sochi. Training camp is particularly grueling with two on-ice practices at either end of the day combined with two or three different off-ice workouts in the hours between practices.
"I've done it before and you always think that it can't be as hard as the last time, but it always is," she said of the prep leading up to the Olympics.
Mélodie Daoust (B.Ed '16) had no idea what to expect when she was invited to training camp in Penticton, B.C., and then to Calgary's centralized camp last summer. Though she was forewarned by some of the senior players about the intensity of the training, she was still surprised by the packed schedule of those first few months.
"We were on the ice twice a day, which is a real change for me," she said. "But I was on the ice with some of the best players in the world and that helps."
All that hard work paid off. Not only was Daoust named to the Olympic team, her game has improved significantly.
"Before I was mostly an offensive player but I'm working a lot on my defensive play," said Daoust who is taking a sabbatical from McGill and the Martlets to represent Canada at the Games. "I play a lot of PK now and that's a new aspect of my game. "
As for how she reacted when she got the good news, Daoust, who like Labonté earned McGill female athlete of the year honours and was nominated for the BLG Award in 2013, was still gushing a week after the Olympic roster was announced.
"When I found out I made the team I was so happy," she said. "It was the best news of my life. It's a dream come true."
As for Catherine Ward (B.Com '09), she doesn't have the wide-eyed wonder of an Olympic rookie or the laid back approach of an Olympic vet. With one Olympic gold medal to her credit she, like the rest of her teammates, is committed to bringing back gold.
That said, Ward admits that the game has changed even in the four years since Vancouver, with more skill and depth in the women's game this time around. One thing that hasn't changed however is that the Americans continue to be Canada's biggest threat, as evidenced by the six-game pre-Olympic series between both rivals which the Americans won 4-2. But Ward's still confidant that Canada will come out on top when it counts.
"I think we'll be able to beat them," she said confidently. "It's been a back-and-forth battle every year with them winning Worlds and us the Olympics. It's going to be a tough battle – they've got great skills."
All three players say the national team is heading in the right direction, settling in with the new coach who has earned their respect and praise.
"He's fit in very well with the team and staff," said Ward who earned CIS rookie-of-the-year status playing for the Martlets in 2006-07 and was named CIS tournament MVP during the 2008-09 championship where McGill took home their second national title. "He brings a new energy to the team that's refreshing and really good."
With Sochi only a few weeks away, Ward says the team will be travelling to Austria on Jan. 21 before heading off to Russia and the excitement that comes with pulling on a Canada jersey and stepping on Olympic ice to represent their country.
"I just want to enjoy every moment of the Games because it's really special," said Ward whose thoughts were echoed by both Labonté and Daoust.
All three players will have their families join them in Sochi, which will add to the experience. Meanwhile on the home front, they'll not only have all of Canada cheering for their success but all of McGill will be sharing in their pride too. Through it all however, the women remain focused on the job at hand.
"We only have one goal in mind and that's to win the gold medal, "said Daoust
