Kim St-Pierre, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and member of the Montréal Stars of the National Women's Hockey League, surprised the Montréal Canadiens when she stepped on the ice as goaltender at their Thursday, Oct. 23 practice.
With Carey Price out with the flu, the team was missing a goalie, and goaltending coach Roland Melanson asked St-Pierre to dress for the tricolor team.
"I said 'sorry girls, but I think I'd like to try something different this morning,' and I'm so glad I came because it was such an experience," said St-Pierre, according to the Canadian press.
In response to Mike Komisarek's question if it was anything like women's hockey St-Pierre, who wore her Stars' jersey to the practice, said, "Not at all-it's so different. They're so powerful. Their quick release is amazing. It was quite something.
"I wasn't scared either," St-Pierre said, "because I was so into it. I don't get to practice with the Montréal Canadiens every day. I dreamed of one day playing in the NHL. I know it's not possible any more, but just to get to practice with them was something that I will cherish."
St-Pierre has played men's hockey before. She played the 2003-04 season for McGill University's men's varsity team, dubbed the Redmen, and became the first woman goalie to win a regular season CIS game in a 5-2 victory over Ryerson University.
At the conclusion of the season her stats read as follows: 1-1-0, 6 goals on 54 shots, 3.02 Goals against Average, and a .889 save percentage.
When asked about her performance, Coach Guy Carbonneau said, "She was great. I thought she hung in there pretty well. I don't think anybody put less velocity on their shots. They tested her and she stood in there. It was good to see." Carbonneau said he would not hesitate to call her again if need be.
"As the practice went on, the guys shot harder and harder. At the start, maybe guys were a little nervous, they didn't want to be the one to hit her in the mask," said Winger Steve Begin, "but about halfway through, the guys weren't letting up on their shots. She faced some good shots. She's a good goalie."
St-Pierre's time with the Montréal Canadiens, better known to some as the Habs, makes her one of two women who have had the chance to play on NHL ice joining. Manon Rheaume. Rheaume, unlike St-Pierre, played in a game for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992.
Women may never play full seasons with the club, but the NWHL offers more than enough action.
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