Brigette Lacquette (centre) with elementary students at Hythe Regional School
Brigette Lacquette with students at Beaverlodge Elementary School
On Tuesday, May 7, students and staff at Hythe Regional School and Beaverlodge Elementary School eagerly welcomed Brigette Lacquette, the first First Nations hockey player to be named to Canada’s National Women’s Team.
Ms. Lacquette shared inspirational stories of her hockey journey, from first lacing up at the age of 5 to representing Canada on the world stage and becoming a professional scout for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. Students were entranced by her many adventures and her hockey career.
Elementary students were excited to hear about the type of stick she prefers, the amount of NHL stars she has in her phone and whether she likes chicken nuggets. When asked if she has a hero, she shared that Jordin Tootoo has always been one of her favourites. “When I was younger there wasn’t anyone who looked like me on the national team, representation matters.” Ms. Lacquette, joined by teammate and good friend Sarah Nurse, is also a member of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, a group of current and former NHL players and women’s professional hockey players who work to advance equality and inclusion in the sport, on and off the ice.
Ms. Lacquette visited Hythe Regional School and Beaverlodge Elementary School as part of the Classroom Champions program. According to its website, Classroom Champions is a program that empowers children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Through the mentorship and mindset of world-class athletes, the program improves student engagement, builds growth mindsets, and inspires positive classroom culture.
Ms. Lacquette will be presenting at a public event on Wednesday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School gymnasium.