Kassidy Sauve just ‘One of the Guys’

 By Adrienne South

For players on any of the top-20 minor midget teams involved in the 2012 OHL Cup, making it here has been a season-long goal, but to one goalie, it’s a dream come true.  

Whitby Wildcats’ netminder Kassidy Sauve knew she wanted to play in this tournament at a young age, and after winning the OMHA title with her team last weekend, the 15-year old has reached the goal she set for herself long ago while making history as the first female to compete in this prestigious event.

“When I was little I always said I was going to play in the OHL Cup and everyone around me always said it was impossible, but I just always kept trying and with the team in front of me we were good enough to get here,” said Sauve.

Aside from stopping pucks and playing soccer in her spare time, Scott Landry, assistant coach of the Wildcats, said Sauve also serves as a mentor for other young female athletes. 

 “She’s quite the role model, especially in Whitby”, said Landry.  “There’s a few female goalies playing boys hockey at younger ages in Whitby and she’s been mentoring them on the ice in practice and so forth and a lot of the girls that are in that role look-up to her immensely.”

When she’s not between the posts, it’s evident she’s a leader off the ice as well. 

 “She’s got a great personality.  She’s always a leader in the room, and she is a competitor.  She’s one of the biggest competitors on our team,” continued Landry. 

Carter Landry plays defense in front of Sauve and agrees that she always has a positive attitude, and said the team is happy to have her.

“It’s obviously different [having a female on the team] but it’s great to have her here and we accept her as one of our teammates and it’s awesome with her.  She’s really good!”

Sauve says she is treated with respect by her teammates and other players in the OMHA league, as well as by everyone in the tournament. 

“My teammates have always been really good and the other teams have always been pretty good for the most part so not that many challenges,” said Sauve.  “Just the different dressing room and finding them before a game is kind of tough sometimes.”

Coach Landry said it’s a pleasure coaching her.  “We’ve had her on our team for a few years now and she’s a true competitor.  We treat her as an athlete, not as a female goalie and as you can see on the ice, she performs every day.”

Sauve hopes to show all athletes and women in general that no goal is ever impossible. 

“If someone really wants to do something, they can – There’s no doubt about it.  If they just keep striving and keep working really hard then they might end up playing in the OHL Cup too and I hope another girl does later on.”

Sauve says it’s her family who really motivate her.  “They keep me going all the time, and so do my teammates.”

Growing up, Sauve said she always looked up to and admired Eddie Belfour.  “I always followed him when I was growing up and I thought he was the greatest goalie out there.”

This will be Sauve’s last year playing with the guys, as she’ll move over to playing female hockey next season.  Her goal is to play with the Canadian Under-18 Team and maybe later on compete for Canada with the Women’s Olympic team, but for now Kassidy Sauve is happy being ‘one of the guys’.