Having contributed to one of the greatest eras of women’s hockey in Montreal, Janique Duval helped transform the Montreal Carabins into a national powerhouse. While remarkable women such as Daniele Sauvageau, France St. Louis and Isabelle Leclaire provided significant leadership off the ice, Duval was an emotional leader on the ice.
Her playmaking abilities and mature presence consistently provided the Carabins with the opportunity to be considered in the national championship conversation. A 2011 All-Rookie Team selection in the RSEQ Conference, she would follow it up with nods to the Second Team All-Stars in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
An integral member of the program’s blueline corps, the resident of Val d’Or, Quebec always understood the responsibilities that encompass serving as the team captain. Having had the honor bestowed upon her this season, it reflected a great point of pride in her career,
“I am very proud to be the team captain. It is more than just a title (being captain), it means the coaches and teammates have confidence in me.”
The fifth year player led all blueliners in scoring with 13 points, all assists. During the season, she assembled a five-game scoring streak from January 25 to February 13. Said streak started with her best performance of the season, a four assist effort in a 9-0 defeat of the Carleton Ravens. As a side note, her 13 assists ranked second among all members of the Carabins roster, trailing only Ariane Barker, who paced the club with 16.
During her career with the Carabins, the chance to play in three national championship games (gaining one title in 2013) represented a great aspect of her hockey legacy. Playing in the bronze medal game at the 2015 edition of the CIS Nationals in Calgary, Alberta, emotions ran very high for Duval. Along with fellow fifth-year teammates Josianne Legault and Elizabeth Mantha, it would prove to be their final game with the Carabins.
Competing against the St. Francis Xavier X-Women, the match was destined to become a classic. Of note, Alexa Normore, the all-time leading scorer in AUS history was also playing her final match in CIS play.
A few weeks prior, Normore had the opportunity to play alongside Mantha and Carabins goaltender Elodie Rousseau-Sirois for Team Canada at the Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain. Although Normore would log an assist in the third period, it was not enough to mount a comeback in a hard fought 2-1 victory for Duval and her Carabins teammates.
“To have played for the national championship three times, it was definitely a team effort. To win the championship at least once, you could not have asked for a better experience.”
Although Duval shall enter the next stage of her life and hockey career, the experiences acquired from the Carabins shall provide a lifetime of pleasant memories. While she is still pondering the future, there is no question that her efforts with the Carabins shall be treasured by its loyal fans for many more years to come.
“There are so many things that I will miss about the Carabins program. We are a close-knit group. I may decide to return home and help build the game there.”
”All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
Image obtained from: http://rouyn.radionrj.ca/info-Abitibi/2015/03/06/hockey-feminin-duval-et-mercier-visent-le-titre
