" The athletes' appetites are at an all-time high."
Up after a lengthy sojourn to the Czech Republic for the World Championships, or a three-week training stint in Verdun, they're all back, clad in the same colors for the Victory, primed and ready for the final leg of the season and the impending playoff series.
"It feels like home, our turf, the team we spend the most time with," Ann-Renee Desbiens beamed, her smile radiating after practice at the Verdun Auditorium. Laughter echoed from the ice, a mix of reunion and work hardiness. But with only two days before their next game in Ottawa on Saturday, there's no time for dilly-dallying.
Kori Cheverie, the Victory's head coach, elucidated their priorities, "We want to remain cohesive, hone our chemistry, develop a shared hockey lexicon." The players, as hungry as ever, are focused on the here and now.
The Victory has left a lasting impression on the World Championships, with standouts like Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Jennifer Gardiner wreaking havoc on the first line of Canada. Ann-Renee Desbiens, fresh from injury, was between the pipes for four games, including the final. Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren emerged triumphant with the American team.
Kristin O'Neill, in one solitary tournament with Canada, amassed as many points as in 27 regular-season games with the Victory. Her individual successes and team-oriented play style have earned her the head coach's praises, "She's an asset to the team, capable of anything for the greater good."
A Welcome Comeback
Three weeks can be a boon for an injured player. That's the case with Alexandra Labelle, who's been on the sidelines since mid-February. Her recent training has allowed her to acclimate at her own pace, gearing up for a welcome return to the game on Saturday.
In the run-up to the World Championships break, Kori Cheverie had frequently spoken about the void left by Labelle's absence at center. Her return is certainly a cause for celebration.
"From another perspective, we've managed to gauge the abilities of those who can play center, take face-offs, and play robust defense," Cheverie mused, "It's helped us answer a multitude of questions and allowed us to experiment with different setups."
"We're delighted to have her back," she added, "She adds stability to the center of the ice."
With the Victory perched atop the standings for weeks, they're in a strong position, also being the only team to have officially qualified for the playoffs. But as they've learned in the past, nothing is ever a done deal. Just ask the New York Sirens who managed to defeat them in their last game before the break.
"We're fully aware that the playoff series are coming. It's on our minds, sure, but we can't let it dominate our thoughts," Marie-Philip Poulin emphasized, "We need to finish the season on a high note, hone our power play and penalty kill skills a bit."
Thursday's practice seemed to be all about communication. "We've been emphasizing this from the get-go," Cheverie revealed, "We need to make it easier for each other on the ice. We're a friendly bunch off the ice, but we could be more vocal on it. Communication is crucial in tense moments."
"Calling for the puck, letting others know your position, that'll be vital moving forward," Abby Boreen concurred. "Communication will play a decisive role in our success."
- Alexandra Labelle, who had been out since mid-February due to injury, is set to make a welcome return to the game on Saturday, following a three-week training stint.
- The absence of Labelle at center was a void frequently discussed by the Victory's head coach, Kori Cheverie, before the World Championships break.
- Cheverie has found the time without Labelle to be beneficial, as it offered an opportunity to evaluate the abilities of players who could fill the center position, take face-offs, and play robust defense.
- Despite being at the top of the standings and being the only team to have officially qualified for the playoffs, the Victory is aware that the playoff series are approaching, but they are focused on finishing the season strong and improving their power play and penalty kill skills.
