Lamoureux Sisters Make Strong Statement in Unprecedented Sweep of Canada

In an unprecedented sweep of the Canadian Under-22 program, the 3 game exhibition series could have been named the Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux Show. Having led all scorers in the series in scoring (Jocelyne with six points, Monique with four points – tied with Brianna Decker of the US), the talented pair humbled a talent rich Canadian squad.

Contested in Calgary, Alberta, the three game series saw Jocelyne Lamoureux earn a point in every game. In the first game (a 4-1 victory for the US), Jocelyne was the only Lamoureux sister to register a point as she had one goal.

The second game saw both sisters get on the score sheet as they were factors on two goals. Monique (and Megan Bozek) assisted on Jocelyne’s power play goal in the first period to tie the game at 1 apiece. By the third period, the USA had a 3-2 lead when Jocelyne assisted on Kelley Steadman’s goal as the insurance marker of the game.

The final game of the series saw the Lamoureux sisters get involved in all four goals as the US swept Canada. Despite facing a 2-0 deficit in the second period, the sisters assisted on two second period tallies by US captain Brianna Decker. At the 14:57 mark of the second period, Jocelyne (and Brianna Decker) assisted on Monique’s go ahead goal.

Despite Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin tying the game in the third period, Jocelyne scored the game winning tally. With the third consecutive win, the Lamoureux sisters combined for six points (2 goals and 4 assists), as the US defeated Canada by a 4-3 tally. Brianna Decker, the 2012 Patti Kazmaier Award winner benefited from playing on a line with the sisters as she enjoyed a 3 point night (2 goals, 1 assist).

With a roster that included 2010 Winter Games gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin, Cornell mainstays Brianne Jenner and Jillian Saulnier, along with hockey prodigy Mélodie Daoust, the Canadian squad could not find a solution to the high scoring sisters. Canadian goaltender and Harvard recruit, Emerance Maschmeyer made 22 saves in the third game but was unable to preserve the 2-0 lead.

While there are many talented players on the United States National Team, the Lamoureux sisters are emerging as the faces of USA Hockey.

Prior to playing for North Dakota, the two were fantastic freshmen that played the 2008-09 season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Both were named to the 2009 All-WCHA First Team and the WCHA All-Rookie Team, while Monique was a First Team All-America selection.

After a stint with the United States national team that resulted in a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, the sisters both transferred to North Dakota (their home state). A perennial loser, the arrival of the Lamoureux sisters began a golden age of women’s ice hockey for the Fighting Sioux. Since their arrival at North Dakota, the squad has won 42 games. From 2004 to 2010, the Fighting Sioux won a total of 44 games.

The 2011-12 season saw the Lamoureux sisters lead the Fighting Sioux to their first ever NCAA Tournament and a Top 10 finish in many national polls. While the WCHA is the toughest conference in NCAA women’s ice hockey (the equivalent of the American League East in baseball, or the NFC East in football), the Lamoureux sisters have proven their worth as elite hockey talents.  Jocelyne was a finalist for the 2012 Patti Kazmaier Award and the NCAA scoring champion.

Like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, she has the ability to make others around her better.

The Lamoureux sisters have proven that they are not only ready to give the United States their best chance at women’s ice hockey gold at Sochi 2014, but they are also prepared to lead North Dakota to the 2013 Frozen Four.