The Gatineau Olympiques lost 5-4 to the Rimouski Oceanic on Saturday. But all the buzz pre and postgame surrounded 18 year old netminder Ève Gascon who became only the third female to play in the QMJHL in league history.
Gascon followed in the footsteps of Manon Rheaume, and Charline Labonte when she suited up for her team’s regular season game against Rimouski this weekend. Both veteran goaltenders reportedly reached out to Gascon earlier this week to wish her well.
In front of a sold out Slush Puppie Centre crowd, Gascon turned aside 18 shots to help force overtime, but her team ultimately fell short. Rimouski’s Xavier Cormier scored 1:10 into the extra frame to send the crowd home disappointed, but Gascon stated she’ll remember the moment for the rest of her life.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction from the crowd,” said Gascon. “It was an incredible experience even though it wasn’t the result we were looking for.”
Across the ice from Gascon was a familiar face. Childhood friend Gabriel Robert turned aside 28 shots for the Oceanic to earn the victory. He and Gascon both came up through the minor hockey system together, as she was the first female player to play midget-AAA hockey in the province of Quebec.
Olympiques coach Louis Robitaille had nothing but praise for the teenager following the game. “As the game went on, the stronger she got…When we got the lead in the third we saw her make some big saves and the crowd was chanting her name. I’m so proud of how she handled everything.”
Whether Gascon sticks with the team for much longer remains to be seen. Currently playing for St-Laurent Patriotes in the CEGEP men’s hockey league, the netminder was called up to the Olympiques following an injury to starter Remi Poirier. Poirier is expected to be out for two weeks, however Gascon has academic obligations with her current team as well.
For now, the goaltender and her family are happy to soak in the memories from an historic debut.