Girls hockey team pays tribute to player battling leukemia

When the Nepean Knights and the Louis-Riel Rebelles took the ice last Tuesday, there was a moment of solidarity as both teams lined up at the door with sticks raised to salute Louis-Riel’s graduating player, Caroline Courchesne, who has been battling leukemia over the past two seasons.

The teams were facing off during the National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association Girls AAA OFSAA division hockey championship.

While Courchesne didn’t play in her final game, she suited up and cheered on her team from the bench.

“Two years ago, when I was in 10th grade, we were going to OFSAA I didn’t really play the games; I felt weak, I had a headache, I was really pale,” she said. “I went back to the hospital when I got back to Ottawa, and they diagnosed me with Leukemia.”

The diagnosis sparked an outpouring of support from the school and community with a fundraiser in her name, “LR Pour Caro,” which raised close to $15,000 (surpassing its $13,000 goal) for CHEO’s Oncology program.

With Courchesne having to shift to online school, unable to play for a time and navigating the ups and downs of treatment, her teammates were right behind her the entire time.

“If I would be admitted at the hospital, they would be the ones texting me and bringing me gifts,” she said. “They would be FaceTiming me after winning the big games, which would put a smile on my face and would make me feel part of the team…I really love them.”

Louis-Riel opened up the scoring late in the first period with a goal from Emma Lewis.

In the third period Nepean’s Rio Francis evened the score at one. With four minutes left in the third period, Louis-Riel’s Annabelle Mckenzie, also playing in her final NCSSAA game, gave her team the lead once again. Less than two minutes later, Mallea McMullin padded the Rebelles’ lead 3-1.

With just over two minutes left in regulation, Nepean pulled their goalie. In addition to having the extra attacker, the momentum shifted in their favour after the Rebelles hit the post on the empty net. Nepean took possession as Charlie Danks and Athena Casey set up Renley Cowan, who narrowed the Rebelles’s lead.

Louis-Riel would go on to win the game 3-2, but with the NCSSAA having two entries to the OFSAA finals in Lasalle, Ont., both teams will qualify.

This will be the first appearance for Nepean’s Girls’ Hockey program and the third consecutive for Louis-Riel, who won the OFSSA title in 2024.