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SportsWire

Late breaking SportsWire Story last updated on 
Tue Apr 1 15:40:11 EST 1997 
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France St-Louis provides veteran leadership 

- Bodychecking is not allowed in the women's world hockey tournament
but that doesn't mean it's a soft touch.

``It's pretty physical out there,'' says France St-Louis, a veteran
forward on Canada's team who has worn the welts and bruises that
attest to the ruggedness of the women's game. ``You don't have the
real bodychecking in the middle of the ice but, if you watch along
the boards, it's pretty tough out there.

``It's quite physical, I think.''

It's pure hockey, hockey the way the sport should be played, says
St-Louis.

``It's not like in the NHL,'' she says. ``That's a little bit too
much.

``We're not following their kind of play. Do you like the fighting
and all that stuff? It gets ridiculous. They play with their stick
like it's a hammer. We don't have to follow that. We play our own
style and I think that's probably why people like women's hockey.
You see strategies, good passing, and fast hockey. It's good to
watch.''

The 38-year-old Montrealer, envigorated by the prospect of playing
in the Winter Olympics next February, is playing with the enthusiasm
of a teenager.

``It's so special when you have the chance to be in a world
championship that each time it is unique,'' a smiling St-Louis said
before lacing on the skates for a Tuesday night encounter with
Russia. ``I just love the game - that's why I'm here.''

Her ultimate goal, of course, is representing Canada at the 1998
Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Canada won the first three women's world tournaments, in 1990, 1992
and 1994, going 15-0 in the process, and pointed itself towards a
fourth title with a 6-0 win Monday over Switzerland.

St-Louis has been a big part of the backbone of all those lineups.
She might have packed it in after the '94 triumph, but then women's
hockey was accepted as a medal sport for Nagano and St-Louis
rededicated herself to the sport.

``I decided that if I can keep up with these young kids I'll stay
and see how it goes,'' she said. ``I just take it day by day.

``Hopefully, I'll be able to go (to the Olympics) but nobody knows
at this point. I'm just happy to be here and I'm enjoying my time
here.''

She began playing organized hockey 19 years ago. She's also won
world championships with Canadian women's lacrosse teams and her
achievements led to her being selected Quebec's female athlete of
the decade, 1980-1990.

St-Louis is the sport director at the Academie Michel Provost, a
private school in Montreal.

``I have a career so to play hockey I have to work really hard
training early in the morning or late at night,'' she said. ``I make
sacrifices to keep playing on this team, but that's OK because I'm
ready to do what it takes to go to the Olympics.

``That would be a dream come true. Ten years ago, it was a dream to
be at the nationals. Then the first world championship was another
dream. Now, it's the Olympics. That's the highest you can go. I'm
really happy for the young ones coming up because they have so much
to look forward to now. I'm really happy to see women's hockey has
improved so much.''

Coach Shannon Miller said St-Louis is an integral part of the
current lineup.

``She plays with a lot of emotion and intensity and I think that's
the heart of our team and why we've done so well over the last seven
years,'' said Miller. ``She's a leader, no question about it.''

KITCHENER, Ont. (CP)

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