Lamoureux era nearing an end at North Dakota
GRAND FORKS — Jocelyne Lamoureux was a freshman at Minnesota when she was asked the question, one that would eventually alter the course of women’s college hockey in the West.By: Brad Schlossman, Forum News Service
- Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux
GRAND FORKS — Jocelyne Lamoureux was a freshman at Minnesota when she was asked the question, one that would eventually alter the course of women’s college hockey in the West.
“Would it mean more if you won a national championship at Minnesota or North Dakota?” a friend randomly asked.
Lamoureux didn’t hesitate. It was a no-brainer.
“North Dakota, ‘Duh,’ ” she said.
The answer, and the ease of which it came, alarmed her.
If she had these types of feelings for North Dakota — the school her mother, father and three of four brothers attended — why was she at Minnesota?
These thoughts rolled around her head for a few nights. She discussed it multiple times with her twin sister, linemate and best friend, Monique.
Finally, they both agreed: Let’s go home.
“Jocelyne and I had a couple of long conversations,” Monique said. “We had a conversation with a very good family friend before we talked to our parents. When we talked to our parents, we weren’t asking for permission. We were telling them that this is what we were going to do.”
The decision stunned the college hockey world.
Minnesota was fresh off a run to the NCAA Frozen Four, had the cupboard stocked with high-end recruits for the future and was perennially in the mix for national titles.
North Dakota had never finished in the top half of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, had never won a playoff game, had never been nationally ranked and had never come close to making the NCAA tournament.
Minnesota had produced two players who reached 100 points in a season.
North Dakota hadn’t had a player reach 100 points in a career.
“In women’s athletics across the board, there are a lot of dynasties and programs that repeat as national champs over a 10-year period,” UND coach Brian Idalski said. “For them to take on a project, to come here to create something special, is rare. It’s something that doesn’t happen a whole lot.”
This weekend, they are playing their final games in Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks in a playoff series against Minnesota State-Mankato.
Undoubtedly, the UND program is in a much different position than when the twins arrived.
UND, which finished last in the WCHA the year before their arrival, has finished fourth, third and second in the last three years with the Lamoureux twins. The team is in the mix for its second straight NCAA tournament appearance.
While they will be gone next year, the future for the program is bright because the recruiting game has turned for the coaches since their arrival.
Rather than hitting the trail for overlooked prospects that might be able to compete, UND has started going after — and landing — blue chip players like 2012 rookie of the year Michelle Karvinen, current standout freshman Meghan Dufault and superstar Canadian recruit Halli Krzyzaniak.
“The legacy they leave behind will go way beyond the points and wins,” Idalski said of the twins.
But the points and wins have been aplenty. Jocelyne became the WCHA’s all-time leading scorer last month, surpassing the 262-point total of U.S. Olympian Hilary Knight, who starred at Wisconsin. Monique also is close to catching Knight, which is remarkable considering Monique spent half of her college career playing defense. Together, the twins have compiled more than 225 goals and more than 525 points.
When the Lamoureux twins grew up in Grand Forks, there was no women’s hockey program. One time, while skating at Purpur Arena, former UND men’s coach Dean Blais had a chat with them. He asked: “Where are you girls going to play?”
Jocelyne answered: “For you. For the men’s team.”
They played on a boys bantam team in Grand Forks — and dominated — before going to Shattuck-St. Mary’s. The twins led Shattuck to three national titles.
UND eventually started a women’s hockey program, but it was in disarray when it came time for the twins to pick a college and they opted to go elsewhere.
Both sisters say they don’t regret their year at Minnesota. But even a year with the rival Gophers couldn’t remove their deep UND roots.
“Every time the national anthem ended at Minnesota,” Jocelyne said, “I would put my head down and say ‘home of the Sioux.’ Not because I wasn’t fully there, but it’s part of who we are, part of our family and part of tradition. I feel like it’s fitting that we end our college careers here.”
Tags: college hockey, und sports, jocelyne lamoureux, monique lamoureux, sports
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