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www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #100 May 2021 31

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Amelie St. Amant: From Ontario Hockey

Academy to University of Southern Maine

By Molly Kett huge part of my life.”
St. Amant continues, “In August of
melie St. Amant was playing 2019, on my way back from an on-ice
Ahockey when she was eleven years training session, my mom received a
old when a new girls’ organization was phone call from Gilles Lascelle, the
started in Stittsville, her hometown. director of girls’ hockey at the Ontario
She describes her hockey career thus Hockey Academy, telling her that they
far as a lot of moving around.
had a spot for me in their program.
“I was really enjoying my time on From that moment onwards, I was able
the ice and wanted to have more games to nourish my dedication to the sport in
and practices. This led me to try out for an environment built for success.”
a competitive team the following year.
When asked about her time at the
Being relatively new, I did not know Ontario Hockey Academy, St. Amant
that girls’ tryouts are held in the spring.
describes it as incredible.
So, I missed out on every single one for
the teams near where I lived. However, “I could never have dreamed that I
my mom happened to find out that a would get to experience such a unique
team 45 minutes away was holding opportunity. Living away from home
tryouts in the fall, so we decided to try with more than 60 other girls seemed
our luck. I was definitely not the best scary at first, but through school,
one out there, but the coach, Denis workouts, on-ice practices, 8-hour bus Photo Submitted
Daoust, saw my potential and offered rides, and weekly tournaments, OHA
me a spot on his team, unknowingly quickly became my second home,” for me,” said St. Amant. “As for the Although my future in the sport is
signing my parents up for years of said St. Amant. “The dedication I saw hockey side of things, one of my uncertain, I do know that it is a super
excessive driving, all in the name of in my friends everyday fueled me to biggest dreams was to play at a school important part of my life and I am so
hockey,” said St. Amant. work hard both in the classroom and that had their own rink. Lastly, and grateful to have been given four more
in training. All of the coaches at OHA most importantly, I knew I had to go years to pursue my passion,” said St.
From this point, St. Amant went
had so much combined experience and somewhere with a good coach. I have Amant. “Hockey has given me the
on to play for another small-town
knowledge about hockey that they were been blessed with so many supportive, gift of sport, and I know that I’ll be an
organization, RSL Thunder. After
able to teach us all during our time in and motivational coaches since I began athlete for the rest of my life, even if
emailing the coach and coming out
the program. In addition to this, I was playing, so I’ve come to understand I’m only a hockey player for a little
to skate at a few practices, she was
able to experience what it was like to the impact a coach has on their team. while longer. As for my career, I hope
offered a spot on the team.
balance full-time academics with a From the first time I talked to Coach to either use my undergraduate degree
“This was a huge moment for me, heavy hockey-schedule, which I think Lauziere, I felt as if he understood to apply to medical school or to take
because in only my second year of has helped prepare me for university what it takes to be a good team player. some time to explore the world.
competitive hockey, I had a spot on next year. Overall, my experience at Outside of hockey skills themselves, St. Amant says she owes thanks to
an ‘A’ level team in the midget age OHA has made me a better student, a positive attitude, eagerness to learn, many people who have helped her
group, and I was determined to keep hockey player, friend, and a better willingness to collaborate, and an along the way.
working hard to prove that I belonged person overall.” overall love for the game are all traits
there,” said St. Amant. “We barely had Now, St. Amant has signed with the that make up a great all-around player, “My parents, friends, teachers,
enough players for the team, and often University of Southern Maine and she and Coach Lauziere felt strongly about trainers, and coaches have all played
got crushed in our games. However, could not be more excited. them all. I not only appreciated his love their own important role in helping me
my coach, Peter Pederson, was so for the sport, but also for the school get to where I am today, and for that
determined, and kept us motivated “I’ve always loved the water and itself.” I will forever be grateful,” said St.
even after the most devastating defeats. being by the ocean, so that definitely St. Amant has decided to major Amant. “My grandfather, Moe Racine,
One team, the OHA Mavericks, a prep impacted which schools I was interested in Health Sciences during her time was the most genuine person I have
school team that I knew little about, in. Another important factor was the playing and studying at Southern ever known. He inspired me in so many
seemed impossible to surmount, and I school itself and making sure the Maine, which will begin this coming ways, but most notably, his passion for
was in awe as to how a team could play university offered programs that would fall. sports, for hard work, and for love was
so well together. Little did I know that allow me to pursue my academic and second to none. He always seemed to
the following year, as I was scrambling career-oriented goals. Southern Maine “At this point in time, my overall know exactly what to say, and every
to find a team for my senior year of high has many science related courses and goal on the hockey side of things is lesson he taught me has, without a
school, OHA would end up becoming a pathways available, which was perfect to continually improve my game. doubt, guided me to where I am today.”