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Dawson provided Olympic training ground

Dawson’s own Marie-Philip Poulin, the youngest member of the Canadian Olympic women’s hockey team, was also its golden girl in the final game. Marie-Philip scored both of Canada’s goals against the U.S. team for the gold medal.

Of the 21 women on the squad, two of its most solid players made a huge impact on the development of the women’s AA hockey program when they played for the Dawson Blues. Marie-Philip scored 58 points in just 15 games with Dawson (29 goals, 29 assists) before interrupting her studies to train with the national team. Catherine Ward (#18, defence) graduated in 2006, a player commonly referred to as the Bobby Orr of women’s hockey.

Dawson’s women’s hockey program underwent a marked improvement when Scott Lambton and his sister Andrea were hired to coach the team. They immediately began to recruit and one of the first players they set their sights on was Catherine Ward.

Catherine was the best player in Quebec in her age group. Dawson College was not on her list of potential schools as her brother went to Brébeuf and that was where she was leaning.

Once she came to the College on a recruiting visit, saw the facilities and the support system for student athletes, she changed her mind.

After Catherine enrolled, other highperformance female hockey players signed in as well, and a dominating women’s hockey squad was born. The program grew in quality and reputation because she took that leap of faith. When the Montreal Canadiens approached Dawson after the tragic events of 2006 to establish a women’s hockey scholarship, naming it for Catherine Ward was an inspired decision. The award is given at Convocation to a female hockey player going on to university and continuing to play hockey.

After finishing her DEC in Social Science (with Math), Catherine narrowed down her
choices to Harvard and McGill University. Choosing to stay in Canada, Catherine went
on to have an equally successful hockey and scholastic career at McGill. After the
Olympics she will continue on to Boston University to complete her MBA.

Marie-Philip Poulin was born in Beauceville, Quebec. Her hockey skill set was such that she played on boys’ teams. But after being cut from the local Midget ‘AAA’ team, and having no place to play, Marie-Philip and her parents decided that she should come to Montreal.

McGill University women’s hockey coach Amey Doyle helped her enroll at Kuyper Academy and she lived with the Rougeau family in Beaconsfield. As a high school student, Marie-Philip began to practice with the Dawson team.

From the beginning, her skills impresse coaches Scott and Andrea, and once she had
completed her high school studies in 2008, she enrolled in Social Science at Dawson in
the Fall.

Despite her heavy hockey schedule, playing for Dawson and trying out for the National team, Marie-Philip maintained a full course load. Marie-Philip and her parents are huge supporters of Dawson and appreciate all the support she has received here, crediting English teacher Alyson Grant and Leanne D’Antoni of the Academic Skills Centre.

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