Two days before the first match of the regular season of the Victoire de Montréal, Catherine Dubois trained without restriction with her teammates. That’s all that mattered to the one who missed the majority of camp.
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“I’m really lucky to be on the ice. It could have really taken more time,” said the attacker on Thursday at the Verdun Auditorium.
In front of journalists, Dubois appeared very emotional.
“Illness, conditions [médicales]it doesn’t discriminate, it can happen to anyone, at any time. It’s just another challenge I’ll have to overcome. But I am well supervised,” she repeated.
The Quebec native remained evasive about the diagnosis received. However, she did not deny that this ordeal was trying.
“Sometimes I feel like life is dragging on. I am human, yes, we are athletes, but it’s not easy,” said Dubois, before adding that she was lucky to be able to count on her family, her friends and the entire Victoire team. .
“I don’t know how people [seuls] do to come out stronger. It really affected me a lot,” admitted the 29-year-old.
Catherine Dubois during a warm-up last May.
Photo MARTIN CHEVALIER
Tears
The inaugural LPHF campaign was not easy for Dubois. Initially a reservist, while working as a mason for the family business in Quebec, she signed two 10-day contracts before finally landing a regular position.
“Emotionally, mentally, I still have a roller coaster this year and it’s up to me to come out of this stronger. If it happens to me, it’s because there is someone who thinks that I am capable of getting through it”, mentioned, with tears in his eyes, the one who always has to prove his worth under a pact not guaranteed.
Then, she cried, saying she was “ready to turn the page and want to practice sport [qu’elle] aime».
“Cath will always come out of anything and she will come out stronger for it. She will do it positively and with a smile. I’m not even worried,” said Alexandra Labelle, her teammate for five years with the Carabins of the University of Montreal.
Alexandra Labelle during the Victoire de Montréal training camp.
Photo Martin Chevalier
Bet won
Labelle accepted the invitation from Montreal rather than that from New York, with whom she had played in 2023-2024, and she won her bet. The 28-year-old Quebecer seized her chance and obtained one of the last six contracts available.
“All the work I put in this summer paid off. I had two good games and a good camp, so I couldn’t ask for better. But my work is not finished, my goal is to win the cup with this team,” she said.
Known for her defensive play, she demonstrated that she could contribute offensively, in addition to bringing a touch of robustness.
“I’m so proud of her. I never doubted that she could make a place for herself. She is an incredible player and person. She deserves it,” commented Dubois, whose presence against the Ottawa Charge on Saturday at Place Bell in Laval is uncertain.
This is also the case for defender Cayla Barnes, who did not complete her first (non-contact) training Thursday.
Here is the 2024-2025 formation of the Victoire de Montréal
Lina Ljungblom
Marie-Philip Poulin
Laura Stacey
Jennifer Gardiner
Kristin O’Neill
Abigail Boreen
Mikyla Grant-Mentis
Alexandra Labelle
Maureen Murphy
Dara Greig
Clair DeGeorge
Claire Dalton
Catherine Dubois*
Erin Ambrose
Tabin card
Mariah Keopple
Amanda Boulier
Anna Wilgren
Anna Kjellbin
Cayla Barnes*
Ann-Renée Desbiens
Elaine Chuli
Sandra Abstreiter
Kennedy Marchment (A)
Dominika Laskova (D)
Gabrielle David (A)
Catherine Daoust (D)
Kelly-Ann Nadeau (D)
*Recent return to training
