Hockey: Hockey Québec Bronze Medalists at 2011 Canada Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia

It all started with a dream and love for the sport where approximately 180 young women embarked on a journey that would change their lives for the next 10 months to follow. The journey started April of 2010, in Trois-Rivieres Québec as each athlete faced a rigorous regime to test their physical and mental capabilities.

Before even getting the chance to step on the ice, these ladies had to accomplish numeral physical tests. Once a month, a session was organized by Hockey Québec at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal under the supervision of professionals where each player would have to surpass their own personal limits to prove themselves.   

During the selection camp for Team Québec, the team participated in the Tournoi des Cheminots at l’Université de Montreal where they would be crowned the champions of the tournament.  

After 8 months of impatient waiting, the last cuts were made to finalize the team in November of 2010. The team would then travel to Mississauga, Ontario to participate in a tournament in preparation for the Canada Games. Team Québec would come back home wearing their bronze medal.  

On February 19th 2011, 20 players would board the plane at the Dorval airport in direction towards Nova Scotia where the Canada Games are held. At the Canada Games, Team Québec would play 7 matches.  

Preliminaries:
1.    Vs. Yukon 17-0 (win)
2.    Vs. Nova Scotia 5-1 (win)
3.  Vs.  Prince Edward Island 5-0 (win)
4.   Vs. New Brunswick 4-1 (win)
5.   Vs.  British Columbia 4-0 (win)

Team Québec would move on to play against Ontario in a 3-2 loss in overtime.

In the final game for the bronze medal, Quebec faces off against Saskatchewan. In the first period, Saskatchewan would go up ahead by two leading 2-0. In a firing second period, both teams would both score simultaneously one after another as Saskatchewan remained ahead 3-1. The third period was predominantly marked by Team Québec as #17 Vickie Lemire and #22 Laurence Porlier would score to tie the game at 3. With two minutes and twenty seconds into overtime, #11 Gabrielle Davidson would score the game winning goal and her second goal of the game as well. Team Québec Wins the BRONZE MEDAL!

Final Score: 4-3 (Qc.)

Three players from Team Québec would finish as the Canada Games top 15 pointers:                          
                                         Goals    Assists     Pts.
6.Sarah Lefort                  7          6               13
8.Gaby Davidson              5          6               11
13. Vickie Lemire             3          6                9