A Hockey Hero

Sports is one of those things where we, as fans, create heroes and villains despite most players just doing their jobs as asked. While there may be some truly vile people in the game - Graham James as an example - the we mostly assign the tags of "hero" and "villain" to people in hockey based on our views as fans. We cheer for the home team and the good guys while raining boos and vitriol down on the visitors and the bad guys. That's normally how hockey sounds, but today I'm celebrating one person whose journey has seen more ups than downs, and, despite never meeting her, had led to her being one of my hockey heroes for the simply reason is that she never gave up while chasing her dream.

Last night in front of 3928 fans at the Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau, Quebec, the young lady above made history. That's Ève Gascon celebrating her first QMJHL win with the football helmet on, and she certainly earned her 7-3 victory against the Drummondville Voltigeurs to become the first women to win a QMJHL game since Charline Labonté accomplished that feat back in 2000 when she helped the Acadie-Bathurst Titan to victory on February 10, 2000!

Gascon stopped 23 of 26 shots in her first-career QMJHL win, and looked very comfortable backstopping les Olympiques to victory in the blue paint. She was fundamentally sound in her crease all night as she squared to shooters, protected the lower-half of the net well, tracked the puck through crowds with great concentration, and stood tall when she required. She'll likely tell you she was just helping the team, but let's be honest in saying that not only did she win her first game, but she lit the flame for a number of girls across the world when it comes to playing hockey.

If Ève Gascon's story doesn't make you smile, I'm not sure you're cut out for this hero stuff. I don't know Ève in any way, but I'm proud of everything she's accomplished, and it would seem that she's destined for great things in this sport. Here are the highlights from last night's game between Drummondville and Gatineau with Gascon making some key saves in the blue paint for les Olympiques!

Ève Gascon's list of accomplishments this year alone are Hall of Fame worthy when you consider she's the first woman since Charline Labonté to play in the QMJHL, the first woman since Charline Labonté to start a game in the QMJHL, the first woman since Charline Labonté to win a game in the QMJHL, and she's inspired millions of players. She was last night's first star as shown in the GIF to the right, and she was greeted with the water-bottle shower when she finally returned to the Olympiques' dressing room. Extra credit goes to #93 Samuel Savoie for his big hockey hug at the end for Gascon as the young lady has made an impact with les Olympiques, with the QMJHL, and with Canada. When she finally makes her way to the NCAA to suit up with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, I have no doubt that she'll have an impact in that community, on that team, and in the NCAA as well!

Count me in as an Ève Gascon fan. While I'm not a die-hard fan of the Olympiques, I wouldn't say I root against them in any way either. What I do know is that if I had a chance to buy tickets to see the Olympiques play and Ève Gascon was the starting netminder, I'd have my butt in a seat at that rink just to see her play the game.

Congratulations and félicitations to Ève Gascon as she becomes the first woman in 22 years to record a win in the QMJHL! Let's hope the next win by any woman in the league doesn't take that long!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!