Eve Gascon is rarely thrown off. On the rare occasion the First Team All-American and Canadian national team netminder concedes a goal, she gets ever harder to beat. This season, the standout at the University of Minnesota-Duluth will have extra homework to balance. Not only from the classroom, but from the Olympic team, and her Bulldogs.
Gascon is a member of a group of collegiate players who for the first time will not be centralizing prior to the Olympics, but instead will be bouncing between their college programs and national teams.
"We're going to make sure we're supporting the to the best of our ability so that they can be successful as student-athletes both on the ice and in the classroom," said Minnesota-Duluth head coach, and former Canadian national team player herself, Laura Schuler.
In 31 games last season, the 22-year-old Terrebone, Quebec product posted a 1.83 GAA, .942 save percentage, and four shutouts. While she didn't see game action with Canada, many believe she's ready for that step, and the now 5-foot-10 goaltender continues to get better each season.
"Our goal is to always be better than we were the day before, she is such a competitor, so committed to just doing exactly that, being better," said Schuler. "She's constantly challenging herself, this year is going to be no different for her."
The only difference for Gascon this season is she could be closing it out with an Olympic medal around her neck, and the potential to knock off one of the WCHA's big three in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio State.