Re: Norwich university cadets 2014-2015
Nice little piece on our own Asst. Coach Leclerc in the local newspaper (Times Argus) the other day... I can only cut and paste as there is a paywall but here it is...
Author: Jim Higgins
Sports | Vermont Sports
Leclerc living out her dream
December 02,2014
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: jimhiggins@pshift.com
The expression “Livin’ the dream” is typicallyspoken ironically. It’s code for saying “My life at the present moment really stinks, thanks for asking.”
But sprinkled amongst us are people who actually are living out their dreams. I am happy to report — without a trace of irony — that I found another such person in our midst.
Her name is Sophie Leclerc, and she’s the assistant coach of the Norwich University women’s hockey team. She’s a Barre gal who stayed local and prospered local.
At Spaulding High School (class of 2005) she did track and field her first two years, played lacrosse her last two years, soccer her first three years (sitting out her senior year with a torn ACL) and played hockey all four years.
After graduation, she was quickly snatched up by Norwich women’s hockey coach Mark Bolding after a brief stint at UVM to help anchor the Cadets inaugural varsity squad. Four years later, Leclerc polished off her college hockey playing career by guiding her team to the 2010-11 national championship with a 5-2 upset victory over RIT.
By the end of her fourth college year, she had racked up 72 goals and 91 assists (a school record) for 163 points in 112 career games.
Her stats and leadership abilities earned Leclerc an impressive array of accolades. She was named ECAC East Player of the Year, New England Division III Player of the Year, American Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-American and runner-up for the D-III Player of the Year.
By the end of her fourth year at Norwich, Leclerc also had a bachelor’s degree with a major in physical education and a minor in biology. By the end of her sixth year at Norwich she had master’s of science degree in organizational leadership. She also had a job lined up at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire as head coach of the women’s hockey team and assistant AD.
But two years ago Bolding called again and recruited her a second time, now to be his top assistant.
“Sophie had a big part in establishing a winning standard for Norwich women’s hockey,” Bolding said at the time. “Now she has chance to work on continuing the tradition that she helped establish.”
Livin’ the dream? You bet, and it’s not over yet.
I asked Leclerc, who presently lives in Northfield, a bunch of questions about her rise through the ranks. What, for example, did her Spaulding hockey coaches (Dave Lamarre, Brad Bresette and Brian Hirschman) and her soccer coach (Peter Sakash) do for her?
“They taught me to be humble,” said Leclerc, who added that she is still close to them, especially Sakash.“There I was, something of a young punk, thinking I had it all figured out, thinking I was on top of the world. But they kept reminding me that there’s always going to be someone out there better than you. They taught me not to be self-centered, and that had a huge impact on me when I entered college.
“I was fortunateto have the same core group of coaches growing up. As a kid you often just see them as ‘Those mean old guys.’ But in the end you understand they were teaching you life lessons.”
I asked Leclerc — who still plays men’s league hockey in Woodstock and mixed pickup games at the BOR — what is it exactly that she loves about the women’s game.
“It is completely different and unique in that it’s based so much on emotion, yet it’s more cerebral than the ‘run-and-gun’ men’s game,” she said. “As a coach, I want to help them capture the essence of that. Women can truly be a team. Your mental state is key. It’s not just whether the other team can shoot the puck better.”
Recruiting good character
As an assistant coach, recruiting talent is a huge part of the job. And Norwich’s national championship sure helped.
“We’re pretty established now so we do attract higher-end players from established teams — both high schools and academies — such as the North American Hockey Academy in Stowe,” she said.
The Cadets also recruit from Quebec.
“A big part of my job nowis to sift through good character kids, maybe with less skills,” she said.
How does Leclerc identify character?
“I can spot character on the ice, but face-to-face is best,” she said. “I’m looking for a sense of humbleness, work ethic, love of the game, a team-first mentality and a different sense of confidence.”
As for toughness, it’s usually obvious to spot.
“I know it when I see it,” she said.
Her advice to young Vermont high school players who aren’t heavily recruited?
“Contact the coach first,” she said. “Honestly, it’s all about contacting the coach and doing your best as an athlete to get known.”
Her advice to young people who want to enter the coaching profession?
“Stay connected,” she said. “People really do notice you. The coaching world is small and a lot of people really keep track of your actions. Use that, put yourself out there. To get your foot in the door, volunteer with youth organizations.”
This year’s team
The Norwich women are 6-1-1 after recording a string of five straight shutouts and scoring 29 goals in eight games. I asked Leclerc if the team is really as good as its stats.
“Our team chemistry has carried us this far,” she said. “Although, with 14 freshmen and two seniors, we’re still trying to figure plenty of things out.Frankly, we haven’t been put through the ringer yet. That starts this weekend, Friday at home against Amherst and Sunday at Bowdoin. Both those teams are also coming off good starts.”
Leclerc may be living the dream, but it’s an intense and exhausting dream.
“When summer comes, it’s my time to regroup and hit the re-set button,” she said. “But really it all comes down to one thing: You gotta love the game.”
Nice little piece on our own Asst. Coach Leclerc in the local newspaper (Times Argus) the other day... I can only cut and paste as there is a paywall but here it is...
Author: Jim Higgins
Sports | Vermont Sports
Leclerc living out her dream
December 02,2014
• Email Article
•
• Print Article
: jimhiggins@pshift.com
The expression “Livin’ the dream” is typicallyspoken ironically. It’s code for saying “My life at the present moment really stinks, thanks for asking.”
But sprinkled amongst us are people who actually are living out their dreams. I am happy to report — without a trace of irony — that I found another such person in our midst.
Her name is Sophie Leclerc, and she’s the assistant coach of the Norwich University women’s hockey team. She’s a Barre gal who stayed local and prospered local.
At Spaulding High School (class of 2005) she did track and field her first two years, played lacrosse her last two years, soccer her first three years (sitting out her senior year with a torn ACL) and played hockey all four years.
After graduation, she was quickly snatched up by Norwich women’s hockey coach Mark Bolding after a brief stint at UVM to help anchor the Cadets inaugural varsity squad. Four years later, Leclerc polished off her college hockey playing career by guiding her team to the 2010-11 national championship with a 5-2 upset victory over RIT.
By the end of her fourth college year, she had racked up 72 goals and 91 assists (a school record) for 163 points in 112 career games.
Her stats and leadership abilities earned Leclerc an impressive array of accolades. She was named ECAC East Player of the Year, New England Division III Player of the Year, American Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-American and runner-up for the D-III Player of the Year.
By the end of her fourth year at Norwich, Leclerc also had a bachelor’s degree with a major in physical education and a minor in biology. By the end of her sixth year at Norwich she had master’s of science degree in organizational leadership. She also had a job lined up at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire as head coach of the women’s hockey team and assistant AD.
But two years ago Bolding called again and recruited her a second time, now to be his top assistant.
“Sophie had a big part in establishing a winning standard for Norwich women’s hockey,” Bolding said at the time. “Now she has chance to work on continuing the tradition that she helped establish.”
Livin’ the dream? You bet, and it’s not over yet.
I asked Leclerc, who presently lives in Northfield, a bunch of questions about her rise through the ranks. What, for example, did her Spaulding hockey coaches (Dave Lamarre, Brad Bresette and Brian Hirschman) and her soccer coach (Peter Sakash) do for her?
“They taught me to be humble,” said Leclerc, who added that she is still close to them, especially Sakash.“There I was, something of a young punk, thinking I had it all figured out, thinking I was on top of the world. But they kept reminding me that there’s always going to be someone out there better than you. They taught me not to be self-centered, and that had a huge impact on me when I entered college.
“I was fortunateto have the same core group of coaches growing up. As a kid you often just see them as ‘Those mean old guys.’ But in the end you understand they were teaching you life lessons.”
I asked Leclerc — who still plays men’s league hockey in Woodstock and mixed pickup games at the BOR — what is it exactly that she loves about the women’s game.
“It is completely different and unique in that it’s based so much on emotion, yet it’s more cerebral than the ‘run-and-gun’ men’s game,” she said. “As a coach, I want to help them capture the essence of that. Women can truly be a team. Your mental state is key. It’s not just whether the other team can shoot the puck better.”
Recruiting good character
As an assistant coach, recruiting talent is a huge part of the job. And Norwich’s national championship sure helped.
“We’re pretty established now so we do attract higher-end players from established teams — both high schools and academies — such as the North American Hockey Academy in Stowe,” she said.
The Cadets also recruit from Quebec.
“A big part of my job nowis to sift through good character kids, maybe with less skills,” she said.
How does Leclerc identify character?
“I can spot character on the ice, but face-to-face is best,” she said. “I’m looking for a sense of humbleness, work ethic, love of the game, a team-first mentality and a different sense of confidence.”
As for toughness, it’s usually obvious to spot.
“I know it when I see it,” she said.
Her advice to young Vermont high school players who aren’t heavily recruited?
“Contact the coach first,” she said. “Honestly, it’s all about contacting the coach and doing your best as an athlete to get known.”
Her advice to young people who want to enter the coaching profession?
“Stay connected,” she said. “People really do notice you. The coaching world is small and a lot of people really keep track of your actions. Use that, put yourself out there. To get your foot in the door, volunteer with youth organizations.”
This year’s team
The Norwich women are 6-1-1 after recording a string of five straight shutouts and scoring 29 goals in eight games. I asked Leclerc if the team is really as good as its stats.
“Our team chemistry has carried us this far,” she said. “Although, with 14 freshmen and two seniors, we’re still trying to figure plenty of things out.Frankly, we haven’t been put through the ringer yet. That starts this weekend, Friday at home against Amherst and Sunday at Bowdoin. Both those teams are also coming off good starts.”
Leclerc may be living the dream, but it’s an intense and exhausting dream.
“When summer comes, it’s my time to regroup and hit the re-set button,” she said. “But really it all comes down to one thing: You gotta love the game.”
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