If we had to bet on Kelly-Ann Nadeau’s chances of being selected by an LPHF team in a few days, it would be possible that the odds would not be favorable to her.
In a draft of 42 players which should be dominated by European veterans and players from the NCAA, the defender of the Carabins of the University of Montreal, given her sober game, does not appear as a headliner, even more so having played for a Canadian university.
However, if we had to bet on Kelly-Ann Nadeau’s chances of playing in the LPHF, the discussion would be different. Because the native of Mont-Laurier arouses enthusiasm among all those who have followed her journey in recent years. This is what makes her one of the Quebecers best positioned to make the jump to professionals.
A sort of hidden card which, chosen or not, will likely hear his phone ring quickly, whether during the draft or afterwards, for an invitation to training camp, for example.
Although she also talks about her ability to get the puck out of her zone well and to “beat and anticipate pressure,” she insists: “My strength is defense. »
Without contradicting her, Philippe Trahan, assistant coach with the Carabins, is “not ready to say that she is only a defensive defender”.
“If her statistics suggest that, it’s because she plays against the best opposing players,” he adds. For me, she is a complete defender. »
He himself adds his list of qualities: his “excellent shot” which gave him ice time in the power play, or his feints and his “unpredictability” in possession of the disc in the offensive zone which have clearly improved over the course of the last season.
Ultimately, her 15 points in 25 games placed her third among RSEQ defensemen, essentially doubling her production rate of 25 points in her first 76 career college games. This dominant campaign earned him a spot on the second all-star team in Canada in 2023-2024.
“He’s a very humble person,” Trahan adds.
We will indeed have guessed it.
Asked about her offensive successes last year, Kelly-Ann Nadeau prefers to salute the “teamwork” and the “affinities” she has developed with her teammates over the years.
The season lost due to the pandemic in 2020-2021 gave student-athletes the opportunity to play an additional campaign, she says she is “really happy” to have chosen to wear the blue uniform one more year.
She attributes her defensive concern in particular to the “strategic” teachings of head coach Isabelle Leclaire, but also to Éric Bouchard, her friend, assistant coach with the Shawinigan Cataractes, in the QMJHL, with whom Nadeau works on the individual plan for years.
She is aware that within a very strong vintage, she must remain “cautious” about her chances of being drafted next week. His name, however, is clearly circulating. Her trainer ensures that “word of mouth” takes its course. And another university head coach – Julie Chu of Concordia – spontaneously complimented her last week during a discussion about another player.
Without getting confused in speculation, we note that two general directors of the LPHF, Danièle Sauvageau in Montreal and Pascal Daoust in New York, are former Carabins. And Ottawa drew from the Blues by selecting Audrey-Anne Veillette a year ago. We could also assume that Toronto is in a good position to have branches in Canadian university hockey.
Regardless, she “still remains cautious,” says Kelly-Ann Nadeau. She mentions a ranking established by Hockey News, which places her 69th among available players, therefore outside the top 42. She will watch the draft session at home, with her family, the one who has always supported her. “I prefer it,” she said.
She has had discussions with European clubs, notably in Sweden and Switzerland. However, the LPHF remains her “plan A”, the one on which she will focus during the summer. She will work on improving her speed, particularly in disc control.
If his past progress is a guarantee of that which still awaits him, plan A is certainly within his reach. Especially given the strength of character attributed to her, no one will bet against Kelly-Ann Nadeau.