Jocelyne Dawn Marie Larocque (born May 19, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played in the PWHPA, with the Calgary Inferno and Markham Thunder of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), the Calgary Oval X-Treme and Manitoba Maple Leafs of the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL), and the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).[1] With the Bulldogs, she was a two-time NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament champion (2008, 2010). Larocque is of Métis heritage and was the first Indigenous athlete to participate in the women's ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics.[2]

Jocelyne Larocque
Larocque with PWHL Toronto in 2024
Born (1988-05-19) May 19, 1988 (age 36)
Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 146 lb (66 kg; 10 st 6 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
PWHL team
Former teams
Toronto Sceptres
National team  Canada
Playing career 2004–present
Medal record
Women's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sochi Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Beijing Team
Silver medal – second place 2018 Pyeongchang Team
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 United States
Gold medal – first place 2021 Canada
Gold medal – first place 2022 Denmark
Gold medal – first place 2024 United States
Silver medal – second place 2011 Switzerland
Silver medal – second place 2013 Canada
Silver medal – second place 2015 Sweden
Silver medal – second place 2016 Canada
Silver medal – second place 2017 United States
Silver medal – second place 2023 Canada
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Finland

Early life

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Larocque played hockey and basketball from 2002 to 2004 at College Lorette Collegiate in Manitoba. During the 2003–04 season, she became the first female player to appear in the Winnipeg High School Boys League. Larocque attended the Hockey Manitoba Program of Excellence Camp from June 25 to 27, 2004.[3] Larocque competed for Manitoba at the 2003 Esso Women's Nationals in Saskatoon as the Manitoba team finished eighth. In January 2005, she was a member of the Manitoba team that participated in the Canadian National Women's Under-18 Championship in Salmon Arm, BC. Manitoba finished fifth, but Larocque was honoured as Top Defenceman. She won the WWHL championship with the Calgary Oval X-Treme in 2005.[4]

College career

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In March 2008, Larocque had one assist as UMD won their fourth NCAA national championship in a 4–0 win over the University of Wisconsin.[5] She competed along with two other players from her hometown of Ste. Anne, Manitoba (population 1,500), Minnesota Golden Gophers senior captain Melanie Gagnon and Mercyhurst forward Bailey Bram. The three were known colloquially as the “Ste. Anne Three.”[6] Also in 2009, Larocque was the first Bulldog defenceman to be named to the All-American first team.[7]

After being cut from Team Canada's Olympic roster in December 2009, Larocque elected to return to UMD for the second half of the 2009–10 season, forfeiting half a season of NCAA eligibility.[8] On March 22, 2010, Larocque and the Bulldogs earned their fifth NCAA national championship with a 3–2 triple overtime victory over Cornell University.[9]

 
Larocque with UMD in 2011

In a February 12, 2011 game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Larocque had a goal and three assists as the Bulldogs defeated Ohio State by a 5–1 mark.[10] Already the all-time top-scoring defenceman in UMD history, she became UMD's 14th player and first defenceman to score 100 career points.[11] Larocque's assist on a power play goal with 40 seconds remaining was her second career four-point game. Larocque was the top-scoring defenceman in the WCHA for the 2010–11 season, with six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 26 league contests.[12]

In post-season league honours,[13] Larocque was named to the All-WCHA first team; was voted the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of the league's head coaches; was the top-scoring defenceman in the league with six goals, 18 assists and 24 points in 26 league contests; was named the WCHA Outstanding Student Athlete of the Year; and was named to the 2010–11 All-WCHA Academic Team.

She graduated with honours from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2011 with a Bachelor of Accountancy. She ended her college hockey career as the Bulldogs' all-time leader in scoring for defencemen with 105 points on 19 goals and 86 assists in 127 games.[14]

Professional career

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Larocque first played for the Team Alberta franchise and remained with them after a rebranding that saw them renamed the Calgary Inferno. In August 2013, she was traded to the Brampton Thunder for fellow Manitoban Bailey Bram.[15] Of note, she served as the final team captain in the history of the Brampton Thunder. When the franchise relocated to Markham, Ontario, she continued as team captain. Of note, she served in the capacity when the Thunder captured the 2018 Clarkson Cup, a franchise first.

On September 18, 2023, Larocque was drafted second overall by PWHL Toronto in the 2023 PWHL Draft.[16]

International play

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She participated in the Canadian National Team Fall Festival from August 31 to September 9, 2007. She was an Air Canada Cup women's champion in 2005–06 and 2006–07. On November 27, 2009, Larocque and Brianne Jenner were released from Hockey Canada's centralized roster to determine the roster for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.[17]

Despite not qualifying for the roster competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she was named to the final roster for the 2010 MLP Nations Cup.[18] Larocque had an assist in the semi-final of the 2010 MLP Cup.[19] In addition, she attended the Hockey Canada Strength and Conditioning Camp in Calgary from May 25 to 30, 2010.[20] In addition, Larocque competed with Canada at the 2010 Four Nations Cup and won a gold medal.[21]

Her Olympic debut with the national team came at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where Team Canada won the gold medal. She played in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, winning a silver medal with Team Canada.[22] She received attention following the gold medal game for removing her silver medal immediately after it was presented to her, prompting a later reproach from an IIHF official.[23] She issued an apology the following day, saying in part, "In the moment, I was disappointed with the outcome of the game, and my emotions got the better of me. I meant no disrespect. It has been an honour to represent my country and win a medal for Canada. I'm proud of our team and proud to be counted among the Canadian athletes who have won medals at these games."[24]

On January 11, 2022, Larocque was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team.[25][26][27]

Personal life

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Former Gophers player and captain Melanie Gagnon is Larocque's cousin.[28] A team was named after her at the 2007 Female Atom Hockey Festival presented by the Manitoba Moose on December 29, at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.[29]

Larocque's sister, Chantal, has competed for Canada at the ISBHF World Championships. Both were also teammates on the now-defunct Calgary Oval X-Treme.

Career statistics

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Career statistics are from USCHO.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database, or NCAA or the Team Canada Media Guide for 2022.[30]

Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Calgary Oval X-Treme WWHL 17 2 6 8 18 3 0 0 0 2
2005–06 Calgary Oval X-Treme WWHL 21 2 8 10 66 3 0 4 4 8
2006–07 Calgary Oval X-Treme WWHL 21 3 15 18 43 3 0 0 0 6
2007–08 Univ. of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 39 4 22 26 60 3 0 1 1 6
2008–09 Univ. of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 37 4 33 37 108 2 0 1 1 4
2009–10 Univ. of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 19 3 10 13 50 3 1 1 2 4
2010–11 Univ. of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 32 8 21 29 60 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Manitoba Maple Leafs WWHL 32 14 35 49 22
2012–13 Alberta Honeybadgers CWHL 23 1 2 3 44
2013–14 Canada AMHL 17 0 0 0 16
2014–15 Brampton Thunder CWHL 24 3 2 5 38
2015–16 Brampton Thunder CWHL 24 2 5 7 32 2 0 1 1 4
2016–17 Brampton Thunder CWHL 20 0 4 4 38
2017–18 Canada AMHL 11 0 3 3 6
2017–18 Markham Thunder CWHL 4 1 1 2 2 3 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Markham Thunder CWHL 23 2 8 10 28 3 0 2 2 4
2019–20 GTA East PWHPA
2020–21 Toronto PWHPA 4 0 3 3 2
2022–23 Team Adidas PWHPA 20 0 2 2 20
CWHL totals 118 9 22 31 182 8 0 3 3 10

International

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Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2006 Canada U22 ACC   4 1 0 1 6
2007 Canada U22 ACC   5 0 0 0 2
2008 Canada U22 ACC   4 0 3 3 8
2008 Canada 4 Nations Cup   3 1 0 1 6
2009 Canada U22 MLP   5 1 0 1 2
2009 Canada 4 Nations Cup   2 0 0 0 0
2010 Canada U22 MLP   5 0 2 2 8
2010 Canada 4 Nations Cup   4 0 3 3 2
2011 Canada WC   5 0 2 2 6
2011 Canada 4 Nations Cup   4 0 1 1 4
2012 Canada WC   5 0 1 1 6
2013 Canada WC   5 0 2 2 8
2013 Canada 4 Nations Cup   4 0 0 0 4
2014 Canada OG   5 1 1 2 2
2014 Canada 4 Nations Cup   4 0 0 0 6
2015 Canada WC   5 0 0 0 4
2016 Canada WC   4 0 0 0 4
2016 Canada 4 Nations Cup   3 0 0 0 0
2017 Canada WC   5 0 2 2 4
2017 Canada 4 Nations Cup   3 0 0 0 8
2018 Canada OG   5 0 1 1 2
2018 Canada 4 Nations Cup   4 0 0 0 6
2019 Canada WC   7 0 3 3 2
2021 Canada WC   7 0 4 4 8
2022 Canada OG   7 0 2 2 10
2022 Canada WC   7 1 5 6 2
2024 Canada WC   7 1 4 5 12
U22 totals 35 3 6 9 44
Senior totals 105 4 31 35 106

Awards and honours

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NCAA

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  • 2009 First Team All-America selection[31]
  • WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Week of February 16, 2011)[32]
  • 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award Nominee[33]
  • 2011 WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
  • 2011 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2011 All-WCHA First Team
  • 2011 First Team All-America selection[34]

International

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  • 2014 Sochi Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medal[35]
  • 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics Women's Silver Medal[36]
  • 2022 Beijing Olympics Women's Gold Medal[37]

CWHL

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Other

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References

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  1. ^ Prest, Ashley (October 4, 2011). "On the Home Front". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  2. ^ "Indigenous athletes help Team Canada win silver medal in women's hockey | CBC News". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  3. ^ "Hockey Manitoba | MANITOba's TOP PROSPECTS DESCEND ON BRANDON". Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  4. ^ "Meet The Team: Jocelyne Larocque". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  5. ^ "Welcome to collegehockeystats.net". Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Cariou, Chris (March 19, 2009). "Ste. Anne's power trio". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  7. ^ "UMD Bulldogs - Women's Hockey". UMD Bulldogs. February 16, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  8. ^ "Women's hockey: Bulldogs advance to Frozen Four". Duluth News Tribune. March 14, 2010. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
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  10. ^ "WCHA.com – Game Recaps". Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  11. ^ "UMD Bulldogs - Women's Hockey". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  12. ^ "Wisconsin's Meghan Duggan Named Player of the Year, Highlights 2010-11 WCHA Women's Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Western Collegiate Hockey Association. March 3, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2012.
  13. ^ "WCHA.com – WCHA Press Releases". Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
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  15. ^ "Calgary Inferno add Minnesota's Sarah Davis, 15 others in annual CWHL draft". Calgary Herald. August 20, 2014. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 18, 2023). "Jocelyne Larocque Goes Second Overall To Toronto In PWHL Draft". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque released from Canadian womens [sic] team". Archived from the original on August 10, 2011.
  18. ^ "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  19. ^ "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  20. ^ "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  21. ^ "Hockey Manitoba | Jocelyne Larocque wins Gold with Team Canada at 4 Nations Cup". Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  22. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jocelyne Larocque". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  23. ^ "Rules are rules: After shunning silver, Jocelyne Larocque ordered to wear medal". The Globe and Mail. February 22, 2018. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  24. ^ "Canadian Hockey Player Jocelyne Larocque Apologizes For Taking Off Silver Medal". Sports Illustrated. February 23, 2018. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  25. ^ Awad, Brandi (January 11, 2022). "Team Canada's women's hockey roster revealed for Beijing 2022". Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "Canada's 2022 Olympic women's hockey team roster". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "2022 Olympic Winter Games (Women)". www.hockeycanada.ca/. Hockey Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  28. ^ Canoe inc. "Ste. Anne hat trick". canoe.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Hockey Manitoba | FEMALE ATOM HOCKEY FESTIVAL BUILDS ON WORLD WOMEN LEGACY". Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  30. ^ "Canada's National Women's Team: 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship" (PDF). Hockey Canada. pp. 47–50. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  31. ^ "All-AMericans". UMD Bulldogs. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  32. ^ "Wisconsin's Duggan, Minnesota Duluth's Larocque, St. Cloud State's Mott Named WCHA Women's Players of the Week" (PDF) (Press release). Western Collegiate Hockey Association. February 16, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2022.
  33. ^ "WCHA.com – WCHA Press Releases". Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  34. ^ "American Hockey Coaches Association". Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  35. ^ "Ste. Anne's Jocelyne Larocque strikes gold". February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  36. ^ "Ice Hockey – Athlete Profile: Jocelyne LAROCQUE". Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. February 22, 2018. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  37. ^ "Ice Hockey – Athlete Profile: Jocelyne LAROCQUE". Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. February 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  38. ^ Kaulbach, Heather (September 26, 2018). "Winners of the Tom Longboat 2018 National Awards Announced" (PDF). Aboriginal Sport Circle Press Release. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  39. ^ ahnationtalk (January 25, 2021). "The MASRC Announces Winners of the Prestigious Manitoba Indigenous Sport Decade Award Winners". nationtalk.ca. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
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