Kate Viel and Alex Therien were honored by the Ottawa Charge for their U-18 World Chanpionship gold medals. They also got to see potential future pro hockey careers in the PWHL first hand.
What began as only a dream on backyard rinks, the crisp winter air rushing by as each stride around the ice became stronger, has led Ottawa natives Alex Therien and Kate Viel to fulfilling those dreams internationally and, in the future, professionally. Therien and Viel, part of the gold medal winning U-18 Women’s World Championship team, returned home on Monday evening to a standing ovation in front of a passionate crowd at TD Place, all enjoying a professional women’s hockey league game which, not long ago, was a distant dream of its own.
“Seeing the new league, it’s great!” Therien shared enthusiastically. “Knowing that there’s a chance to play in a pro league after university and to see the girls out there having a blast, making money now, it’s just great.”
Therien and Viel, both defenders, are cornerstones for their junior clubs, the Nepean Wildcats and Ottawa Lady Senators respectively, so their immediate impact at their first international tournament with Team Canada came as no surprise. Canada dominated the tournament, going undefeated while scoring 40 goals and limiting their opponents to only 5 goals against, which included three shutout victories, and both Therien and Viel played an integral part in that success. They also contributed on the scoresheet, as Therien notched one goal and three assists, while Viel added one goal and four assists to help Canada capture the gold medal.
“I remember the last two seconds,” Viel recalled. “Everyone got on the ice and we all started cheering together,” said Viel. “Most of us were crying–it was a dream come true for all of us.” “When Stryker Zablocki scored that third goal, empty netter,” Therien added.
“I think we all started crying on the bench because we were all so happy. Having our parents there and in the stands, supporting us and our journey, so so great!”
Moments like these highlight not only the importance of international success, but also the growing recognition of women’s hockey at home. Seeing your accomplishments celebrated like this in front of your hometown crowd, and envisioning your own future in professional women’s hockey is a powerful motivating factor.
“I think for me, just looking forward to that is really important,” Viel said. “Going to university and then the pro league after that is really awesome and to be able to make money out of the game is also pretty cool!”
The journey which Alex Therien and Kate Viel have taken to get to this immensely important moment isn't lost on them as they both prepare for their upcoming commencement of their collegiate careers. From the backyard rinks, to dreaming of a day in which they too can be paid to play the sport they love in a professional league, these journeys serve as inspiration for the next generation and their success is but a glimpse of the bright future ahead for women’s hockey.