An integral part of the NWHL’s emerging heritage, the chance to compete in the 2018 All-Star Game added more insightful connotation to Corinne Buie’s brilliant career. With the event held in Saint Paul, Minnesota, it provided her with a treasured prospect to return to her fabled hockey roots. Having also participated in last year’s All-Star Game, Buie holds a key part in the parable of the NWHL and its integral mark on the professional game.
Becoming the only player to capture the first two Isobel Cup titles, Buie’s legend is assured. Also part of an exclusive sorority of wondrous women that have won both the Clarkson and Isobel Cup in consecutive seasons, achieving the feat in 2015 and 2016, Buie’s on-ice heroics are only matched by a notable courtesy and amiability that have made her one of the league’s most admired skaters.
Raised in Edina, Minnesota, Buie has become one of its most famous and accomplished residents through her sporting heroics. Graduating from Edina High School, where she gained seven varsity letters and was a First-Team All-State in 2010, the chance to return to her home state is one that she has now enjoyed twice in her NWHL career.
During the NWHL’s inaugural season, Buie’s club team, the Boston Pride, made the trek in December 2015 to Ridder Arena, home of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers to participate in a two-game series versus the Minnesota Whitecaps, the first professional women’s ice hockey games in the state. Undoubtedly, said series enhanced a sterling hockey legacy for Buie, whose brushes with hockey history in this decade are truly tremendous.
Taking part in another pivotal pro hockey moment in the State of Hockey, Buie was joined by fellow Minnesotans, including goaltender Sydney Rossman of the Connecticut Whale, plus Minnesota Whitecaps forward Sadie Lundquist as members of Team Ott, named in honor of team captain Brittany Ott. As a side note, Ott was also part of the Pride roster that competed in the landmark series against the Whitecaps.
“It was amazing on so many levels! I love Minnesota and appreciate every opportunity to spend time there. It was incredible to have a big group of my family and friends in the crowd cheering me on. It was super cool to have the Wild’s partnership for the weekend with the event being held at their brand new training facility, Tria Rink.
The crowds were great and there was a pretty big contingent of people who traveled from out East, including some loyal Beauts fans. I was a little nervous about the shooting accuracy event in the skills competition, so it felt really good to capture that one for Team Ott. The four-on-four game was fast-paced and fun. It was a great weekend and I hope the NWHL expands to Minnesota!”
Certainly, Buie has quickly become a treasured icon in the Northeast. Between her collegiate and professional endeavors in New England, including a pair of championships and participation in the outdoor Women’s Winter Classic, Buie has built on this amazing body of work with a magical time as a member of the Buffalo Beauts. Scoring a goal in the 2017 Isobel Cup finals, bringing the city of Buffalo its first hockey championship since 1970, she has also taken on the role of captaincy during the 2017-18 campaign.
Having accomplished historic milestones with both the Pride and the Beauts, Buie’s All-Star experiences in 2018 resulted in a chance to rekindle the fond memories that came from her treasured time with the black and gold.
Among the former teammates from the time that Buie played with when she donned the colors of the Boston Pride, five fantastic competitors would call Buie a teammate once again in Saint Paul. Such a distinguished group include Jillian Dempsey, Emily Field, Alyssa Gagliardi and Jordan Smelker. Not to be forgotten was Brittany Ott, who gained the prestige of serving as one of the team captains.
“Yes, Ott is really fun to be around and a great goaltender. She hooked us up with Team Ott hats and shirts and I enjoyed seeing her and my other former Pride teammates!”
Surrounded by a warm circle of friends, family and belonging, it was a sentiment that Buie reciprocated, subsequently setting a positive example for the young competitors that were on-hand for what may have served as the highlight of the All-Star event. On a crisp Saturday morning, as the outpouring of a new dawn brought a rise of rapport out of the gracious All-Stars gracing the wondrous Winter Carnival’s outdoor ice near Rice Park and Landmark Center for a skate.
Joined by a group of fledgling skaters from both sides of the border, revelling in the only professional women’s All-Star event of the 2017-18 season, it set the tone for a weekend where an amalgam of celebration and belonging resulted in an unforgettable occasion, as the State of Hockey truly lived up to its revered billing.
“The outdoor skate with the young girls was a highlight of the weekend. Many of them came all the way from Toronto! It took place at a special rink set up in downtown St. Paul for the Winter Carnival. Even though it was below zero and our toes were freezing, the sun was out and the kids were having a blast and skating hard. I was really impressed with the level of talent!”
Participating in Shooting Accuracy portion of the All-Star Skills Competition, Buie was actually one of four Beauts in the event. Of note, all three competitors for Team Leveille call the Beauts their club team, including fellow Minnesotan Jordyn Burns, plus Canadian stars Sarah Edney and Rebecca Vint. Adding to the sense of coincidence was the fact that other two shooters for Team Ott were former teammates of Buie with the Pride; Jillian Dempsey and Jordan Smelker. Not only would Buie emerge victorious in the Shooting Accuracy, providing Team Ott with a valuable point, she would set a new record with a sensational time of 12.6 seconds, respectively.
During the game itself, Buie found the back of the net twice, while Beauts teammate (and fellow Team Ott skater) Scamurra logged a hat trick, garnering co-MVP honors with Kelsey Koelzer of Team Leveille. With the achievement of a goal in the Isobel Cup finals, plus an All-Star goal, Buie’s hockey resume is truly emerging as a cut above. The thrill of being able to score twice could only be outmatched by the privilege of gracing the ice with proud friends and family in attendance, accentuating the impact of homecoming during a game to remember,
“It felt amazing to score in front of my family and friends who came to watch! They don’t get to watch me play in person often, so I was really glad I could score for them and help my team get the win this year.”
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
Images obtained from Twitter: https://twitter.com/BuffaloBeauts?lang=en
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