A hometown connection helped make a historic weekend for women’s hockey in Winnipeg even more meaningful for Southeast Manitoba families.
A sellout crowd of more than 15,000 fans packed Canada Life Centre as the Professional Women’s Hockey League made its Winnipeg debut, with the Ottawa Charge defeating the Montreal Victoire in overtime.
For Ste. Anne’s Jocelyne Larocque, the game marked a homecoming moment, with nearly 300 family members and friends in attendance to watch her take the ice for Ottawa.
Family support fills the stands
Among those in the crowd were Larocque’s aunt Shannon Hildebrandt and cousin Mackenna Pelletier, who described the experience as unforgettable.
“Well, it was incredibly special… we got to go and see her play on home ice,” said Hildebrandt.
She reported the atmosphere inside the arena stood out just as much as the game itself.
“Just the type of fans that were there, from little ones like my grandson, who’s 8 months old, to my dad, Jocelyne’s grandfather.”
L-R: Shannon Hildebrandt, Noella, Mackenna Pelletier in the Country 107 studio, powered by LMS Ag Equipment.
She added the energy in the building was unlike anything she had experienced before.
“The amount of girls, teams, hockey teams, and just the energy in that building, it was something that was so amazing. It was incredible.”
Inspiring the next generation
For Larocque’s family, the impact of the moment extended beyond one game; it impacted the young female hockey players.
“Oh, it gives them hope and they know that their dreams can come true.”
Hildebrandt said seeing elite women’s hockey live provides something different for young girls in attendance.
“They can see it happening, when you see it and you’re a part of it, that gives it a whole different meaning.”
Pelletier said the experience was especially meaningful to her.
“I grew up watching my cousin Jocelyne play hockey… and I just said how special it was to have my kids be able to [see] her live.”
She said the moment felt like a full-circle experience.
“I was like, oh my goodness, this is like a flashback for me… watching her play, I felt like a kid again in Duluth watching her. And to experience that with my own kids is just so special.”
A journey shared by family
Larocque’s rise to the professional level has been supported by family members who have followed her career across the globe.
“We’ve grown up watching her play hockey,” Hildebrandt said. “We followed her to the Worlds, Women’s Worlds. We’ve been to Ottawa to Penticton or Kelowna. We also went to the Olympics when she was in Korea.”
She said seeing Larocque play professionally in Winnipeg was a milestone moment.
“To see her play out here and where she’s come to be in a professional women’s hockey league is incredible,” Hildebrandt added.
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The weekend featured more than just the game, with the league hosting a hockey operations career panel at the University of Manitoba along with youth clinics across the city.
Mackenna said the strong turnout reflects how far the women’s game has come.
“There was 15,000 people [at the game], and just to see all those people, women’s [hockey] has come so far, and that’s so important, I think.”
Hildebrandt added the response from fans could help make the case for a future franchise in Winnipeg.
“We hope that Winnipeg will get a women’s team because wouldn’t that be something? That would be pretty exciting. I think the young girls [at the game] proved that we’re worthy of it.”
As the PWHL Takeover Tour continues to other Canadian cities, the impact of its Winnipeg stop is already being felt, especially in communities like Ste. Anne, where one local athlete’s journey has become a source of pride and inspiration.
-Written with files from Carly Koop and Nolan Kehler.