Kahnawake at the Quebec Games
The contingent of athletes representing the Sud-Ouest region in Blainville includes three athletes from Kahnawake who will take part in the women’s hockey tournament: Iakotste’niá:ron Deer, Ella Montour, and Teieronhiathè:tha Bauersfeld. Courtesy Jeux du Quebec Sud-Ouest
The 60th edition of the Quebec Games Finals, which brings together competitors from regions across the province, starts this weekend in Blainville.
Kahnawake is a part of the Sud-Ouest region, and three young athletes from the community will be taking part in the games: Iakotste’niá:ron Deer, Ella Montour, and Teieronhiathè:tha Bauersfeld will play in the U15 girls hockey tournament.
Bauersfeld will wear an “A” and serve as one of three alternate captains on the team.
“I’m excited because this experience is new, I’ve never done it before,” said Deer, who plays on the wing.
“It means a lot for us to be able to represent our community, because not many people from town will get to have this experience and opportunity to perform in the Quebec Games.”
The three Kahnawa’kehró:non are not just teammates on this regional team, but they are also teammates but on their high school hockey team at Kuper Academy and on the AA U15 Sud-Ouest Storm.
“It’s amazing to see our young girls working hard like this and having one another during these experiences,” said Jenny Lahache, Deer’s mother.
Lahache said she was surprised by the announcement but knew her daughter deserved to be there, adding she was very proud of how much Deer has worked to get to this point.
“Over the past four seasons, I’ve watched her growth and evolution, and it has been truly incredible to witness and support. Despite many ups and downs, she has consistently shown resilience,” said Lahache.
“She understands the high level of some of the girls who made the team and aspires to reach that level herself by continuing to develop more elite skills, technique, and game play.”
Deer said she’s also hoping to develop friendships with her new teammates as well.
“I want to have a lot of fun,” said Deer.
Antoine Lépine-Perreault, the regional responder for the Sud-Ouest region, said that having fun and giving your all is really the main goal of the region at the Quebec Games.
“We always strive for performance over victory. The nuance is important,” said Lépine-Perreault.
“We want our athletes to have fun. We want them to work hard. We want them to go above and beyond. We want them to live exceptional moments. There’s an old saying that the Quebec Games can’t be explained. They have to be lived. And that’s exactly what we want to give our athletes.”
The goal is to have athletes keep playing by focusing on fun at an age when many teens drop their sports.
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He mentioned how during the Olympic Games, there were many reports on how Norway had shifted its Olympic strategy to be based on fun rather than competition, and it had massively paid off in Milan, where they won 17 gold medals, the most in any Winter Games ever.
The Quebec Games will begin today, Friday, and go until March 7.
The girls’ hockey tournament begins on February 28, with the Sud-Ouest playing their first game at 8:30 a.m. against the Outaouais region. They will play later that afternoon at 2:15 p.m. against the Richelieu-Yamaska region. Playoff games will begin on March 1.
