Drafting Deschênes
The Montreal Carabins women’s hockey team was merely in their third season of existence when they took home a silver medal from the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) championship in 2012.
And that was off the heels of an impressive CIS championship appearance in their 2009 inaugural season. Two seasons later, the Carabins captured the Golden Path Trophy as national champions.
At the helm was team captain and Saint-Quentin, N.B., native, Kim Deschênes, who, after her success on the ice at the university level, was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Stars in the 2014 CWHL Draft.
Born and raised in Atlantic Canada as a francophone, she made the move to Quebec to pursue academics and athletics at the Université de Montréal, and has since made the city her new home.
In addition to the national championship in 2013, she was also named the Université de Montréal Female Athlete of the Year, adding to her already extensive list of accolades.
In 2010, she won the QSSF (Quebec Student Sport Federation) Rookie of the Year award, and previously competed in the 2009 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, leading the way as an offensive spark plug.
Deschênes also represented Canada at the 2011 Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, where the Canadians claimed gold.
In 2014, Deschênes had her sights set on the next level of women’s hockey, and entered the CWHL’s entry draft. The forward was welcomed by former teammate and fellow front-liner Mariève Provost, who played alongside Deschênes at the 2011 Universiade.
As a rookie with the Stars, Deschênes tallied 14 points (eight goals, six assists) during the 2014-15 regular season, along with two points (one goal, one assist) in Montreal’s Clarkson Cup run.
All of these accomplishments, and Deschênes is just 23 years old. The future looks bright for this young sharpshooter, who will suit up for her sophomore season in the CWHL this fall.
The Stars, who have claimed three Clarkson Cup titles, fell short to the Boston Blades in the CWHL final game of the 2015 playoff tournament, held in Markham, Ont., this past March.
Nevertheless, Deschênes played a pivotal role on her team, and will continue to help her adopted city on its quest to reclaim the CWHL championship, and by doing so adding another poignant moment to her hockey resume.
