Team Canada star inspires youth at Whitehorse hockey camp

The 13thannual Northwestel Hockey Summit is underway this week in Whitehorse, and this year, young players from across the territory have a world-class role model to learn from.

Team Canada defencewomanBrigette Lacquette, the first First Nations player to be named to Canada's women's hockey team, is in the Yukon capital this week working camp attendees.

Lacquette, who is Cree from Manitoba, says that she's hoping to pass on lessons to her young charges that extend beyond the rink.

"I have faced a lot of struggles," she said,"and it wasn't just bullying, it was also racism.

"I remember at my first summer league hockey tournament, this girl called me a dirty Indian, and told me to go back to my reserve. I was so mad, thinking about it.Obviously I couldn't, because my dad told me:'just beat her on the ice, and be a better person.'"

Lacquette grew up in the rural community of Mallard, Manitoba. While growing up, she not only had to contend with racism and bullying, but with financial struggles, as well when she began playing hockey, her family was on welfare.

Something better

However, her parents, whom she cites as inspirations for her, never stopped finding a way to provide for Lacquette and her two siblings. Both eventually obtained their high school diplomas. Her father now owns a construction business, and her mother is a teacher.

"They taught us everything," she said. "My parents are such hard workers.They were able to make threekids grow up decently, and move out of Mallard, and become something better, and aspire to be something better."

Lacquette said she's excited to be at the Northwestel camp, which she says gives players the chance to learn the fundamentals of the game without incurring the expense of travelling.

As for her own journey, Lacquette, who's aiming to be on team Canada for the 2018 Olympics, said it's "amazing" that she's become a role model for younger athletes.

"Enjoy what you do, and be happy with what you do," she said."I think happiness is the overall goal in life, pretty much.

"I'm pretty much living my dream. I'm helping kids now, in hockey camps, and I'm still training hard, and still trying to make the Olympic team."