URL:http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyWomen/apr1_stl.html
April 1, 1997
WOMEN GET PHYSICAL AT WORLDS
KITCHENER, Ont. (CP) -- 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."
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