Shannon Coulter
The Intrépide de l’Outaouais were an overtime goal away from going to the Esso Cup last year.
After finishing third in the regular season, Outaouais had the best record at the 2023 Coupe Chevrolet, going undefeated until the final, where they suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière.
But this year, the Intrépide came back stronger and better than ever.
Since it joined the Ligue de hockey d'excellence du Québec (LHEQ) in 2018-19, the team has slowly been climbing up the standings. This season, the Intrépide finished atop the LHEQ for the first time in team history with a 25-2-1 record.
The team carried that success from the regular season into the Coupe Chevrolet provincial championship, allowing just three goals in four games on the road to a rematch against Laurentides-Lanaudière in the final. This time, the Intrépide shut out the Étoiles 2-0 to earn a spot at the 2024 Esso Cup in Vernon—the first for Outaouais.
Laurence Lafleur helped to lead the Intrépide to the national stage; the 16-year-old was the LHEQ scoring leader this season with 42 goals and 59 points before adding four goals and nine points in the playoffs.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
Coupe Chevrolet Preliminary round: defeated As de Québec 2-1, defeated Amazones de Laval-Montréal 10-0 Quarterfinal: defeated Harfangs de Sherbrooke 3-1 Semifinal: defeated As de Québec 3-1 Final: defeated Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 2-0
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 25-2-1 (1st in LHEQ) Goals for: 130 (1st in LHEQ) Goals against: 43 (2nd in LHEQ) Longest winning streak: 11 (Jan. 21-March 31)
Top 3 scorers: - Laurence Lafleur – 42G 17A 59P (1st in LHEQ) - Kélia Gilbert – 15G 18A 33P (5th in LHEQ) - Geneviève Godin – 16G 15A 31P (6th in LHEQ)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 5-0 Goals for: 20 Goals against: 3
Top 3 scorers: - Laurence Lafleur – 4G 5A 9P - Maya de Beaumont– 4G 2A 6P - Kélia Gilbert – 2G 4A 6P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Gabrielle Brochu – Cégep Heritage Paige Dubeau – Dawson College Kélia Gilbert – Cégep Limoilou Geneviève Godin – Champlain College Laurence Lafleur – Champlain College Élyssa Lalonde – Champlain College Anabelle Legault – Cégep Heritage Anabelle Monfils – Dawson College Jade Poulin – Cégep Heritage Gabrielle Roy – John-Abbott College