A few snowflakes fall timidly on Vieux-Terrebonne on a cloudy Wednesday morning in May, which betrays any conception of an imminent summer. Raphaëlle Tousignant storms into the Brûlerie de la Rivière café, where she has invited La Presse.
“Sorry I came in a little short,” she says as a cover of Free Fallin’, by John Mayer, plays in the background and the snow visibly melts on her black jacket and on her blonde locks. “I think they’re setting up the decks or they’re doing the construction,” she says.
With her iced coffee in hand, she settles down on a bench in this rustic, almost western tavern, to talk about her challenges, her achievements, her moments of doubt and joy.
It’s a bit like the last weeks of the para hockey player. Things are changing and full of surprises – much bigger than the return of the terraces.
Just two weeks ago, Raphaëlle learned that she will represent Canada at the Men’s World Championship, which will be held at the end of the month. She will then become the first woman to take part in a major men’s Para hockey competition wearing the maple leaf jersey.
In a snap, Raphaëlle became the face of women’s para hockey and possibly of Canadian para hockey.
“I still don’t realize what all this entails,” she admits. I had this role of spokesperson by the band. Some days I embrace this role, others less so. I feel a little extra pressure, because I tell myself that I represent women’s Para hockey as a whole. I think to myself, what is the message or the impact it sends if I don’t have the tournament I want? It’s a pressure that I put on myself.
“But I’m also happy to have this title. In recent years, I had come to terms with the idea that my role was just to open doors for future generations. I thought to myself that if I didn’t go to the Paralympic Games, but was able to advance the sport on the men’s side to develop it on the women’s side, maybe future generations would not have to worry about whether they will be able to go to the Paralympic Games. Because when I started, I thought I could go. »
In fact, it is Raphaëlle’s dream. That of one day wearing the colors of Canada at the Paralympic Games, and this, in his sport. The problem is that the female component does not exist in para hockey. The observation almost 30 years after the integration of this sport into the Paralympic program: only three women have participated, and never on the side of the two North American powers, Canada and the United States.
A statement that could become invalid after the Milan-Cortina Games while the attacker will certainly be in the plans of the Canadian management.
Raphaëlle was not predestined to become the next class leader in para hockey.
Young, she is interested in multiple sports such as soccer and dance. However, it was at age 8 that her father introduced her to ringette, a sport she fell in love with.
Two years later, she suffered a nasty fall while playing her favorite sport. “I thought it was a bruise,” she recalls. But the longer it went, the worse it got. It was very hot and I was no longer able to sleep without an ice pack. »
A few months later, the cause of his pain is known and has a name: osteosarcoma. This type of bone cancer took hold in his right hip and in his sciatic nerve.
Two main options emerged. She could either have a “soft leg” that she would “drag” for the rest of her life, or an amputation of her right leg. After analyzing the pros and cons, she had her right leg amputated at age 10.
“The only point where my whole life stood was for sports. I cried when I found out I was going to have an amputation. It wasn’t because I wasn’t going to walk anymore, because there are options for that, but really because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to exercise anymore,” she recalls.
Since she had to do chemotherapy treatments after the amputation, Raphaëlle had to wait a little longer before regaining physical activity and especially reconnecting with the ice. When, after a year of waiting, she finally tries para hockey, it’s love at first sight.
“I immediately told my father that I wanted to make the women’s national team,” recalls Raphaëlle Tousignant. He said to me, “wô, start by holding on to your sled, we’ll see later”. »
Little by little, Raphaëlle progresses. At only 14 years old, she carved out a position with the senior women’s team. At 16, she represented Quebec in men’s competition at the National Championships.
All of this momentum is being hampered by COVID-19. An almost healthy break. In addition to recovering from a few injuries, she is taking charge of her nutrition and her physical and mental preparation to become an international-level athlete.
Everything was in place for the hatching of Raphaëlle Tousignant. At 20, it’s consecration.
She is invited to participate in a series of matches against the Americans, knowing that the players are auditioning for a place in the World Championship. However, the striker sees this camp above all as a place where players already in the team come to confirm their status.
She knows “the camp of her life” there and to her amazement, she is chosen for the World Championship.
What does she mean by “the players were talking about it”?
Well, his teammates had a say in the selections. They all had to mention a player or, in this specific case, a player who particularly stood out during the meetings and who deserved his place for the Worlds which will be played in Moose Jaw at the end of May. Raphaëlle’s name came out almost unanimously, and that was it.
“I was a bit in shock,” she admits. Still to this day, I realize it, but not completely. It feels like I’ve wanted this so badly for years and even if it happens, it looks like I’m just going to believe it when I get there. It really wasn’t planned. I didn’t even cry when I heard the news while the coaches did. »
This is another milestone for Raphaëlle Tousignant the para hockey player. Another feat for the pioneer. And above all, the start of something big for the future Paralympian. “But for now, I’m just going to be Raphaëlle,” she dares to temper.