Veteran Manitoban on Canada's Olympic women's hockey roster says team 'playing for gold' in Italy
Competing in 1st Olympic Games a 'dream come true' for Winnipeg's Kati Tabin
Two Manitobans will be lacing up their skates for Canada's Olympic women's hockey team in Italy next month, as the team fights to repeat another gold-medal winning run on the world stage.
Veteran Olympian Jocelyne Larocque, 37, is gearing up for her fourth Olympics after bringing home three medals — two gold and one silver — since her debut in Sochi in 2014.
Larocque, who is originally from Ste. Anne, Man., told Information Radio host Marcy Markusa she was "ecstatic" and "incredibly honoured" to have been selected for the team heading to Milano Cortina 2026.
"It's something that I try to earn every day. And I don't just assume because I've been on the team that I'll make it. So I think that's the mentality that has helped me stay on the team," she said.
Stacked with veterans, nearly 70 per cent of the 23-player roster announced earlier this month were previously on the gold-medal-winning team that topped the podium in Beijing four years ago.
Each member of this year's Canadian team plays in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
Larocque, who plays for the Ottawa Charge, said the competition will be fierce in Italy next month, as PWHL players will be taking the ice for several international Olympic teams, including the United States, Finland and Sweden.
"I think this Olympics will be the fastest-paced Olympics ever because there's so many players that are playing at a high level every night. So it's just going to bring up the level of play," she said.
Teammate Kati Tabin, who plays with the PWHL's Montreal Victoire, will be competing in her first Olympic Games this year.
The 28-year-old from Winnipeg told Up to Speed guest host Chloe Friesen it was a "dream come true" to be selected for the team.
She said she's looking forward to teaming up with fellow Manitoban Larocque, as they're usually opponents during the regular PWHL season.
"Just over the camps in the summer with Hockey Canada, she kind of took me under her wing, which I really appreciated. I couldn't be happier to be her teammate now," Tabin said, calling Larocque a "phenomenal player" and a "great person."
Larocque said she's excited to lace up alongside rookie Olympians.
"All those first Olympians, they're ready to contribute. They're ready to make an impact on the team ..." she said.
"It's definitely on us veteran players to make them feel that, believe that and know that."
Despite being the reigning Olympic champions, hockey enthusiasts have described Canada as an underdog for the gold medal in Italy.
The American women's team swept Canada to win the four-game Rivalry Series last month.
But Larocque said the loss didn't slash Canada's confidence as the team gears up for the Olympics.
"It definitely didn't go as hoped, but it's something that we can learn [from] and get better. The biggest thing that we learned is that wasn't good enough," Larocque said.
"The one thing that it didn't do is that it didn't waver our confidence. We're going there expecting gold and playing for gold," she said.
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With files from Marcy Markusa and Chloe Friesen