Maclaine Chadwick | Fulcrum Staff
Photo by Richard Whittaker
“Meet a Gee-Gee” takes a look at the people under the jerseys. Whether they’re varsity athletes or otherwise, we ask the players questions you want answers to. We get the dirt, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Meet Cassie Seguin, a third-year psychology student at the University of Ottawa and goaltender on the women’s hockey team. In an email interview with the Fulcrum, Seguin talks about the misconceptions of women’s hockey, whom she idolizes, and why the U of O is so great to play for.
The Fulcrum: Can you describe a week in the life of a Gee-Gees hockey player?
Cassie Seguin: A regular week for us is pretty busy. We have five practices a week, Monday through Friday. Specifically, on Monday we have a goalie practice, Tuesday is power skating, and Wednesday through Friday are regular practices. Each practice is about an hour to two hours. Outside of that, we have strength and conditioning every Tuesday and Thursday, plus one training session on our own, yoga every Wednesday, and then we have to stickhandle and shoot off-ice once a week. Then we usually have our games on the weekend.
How long have you been playing hockey? Why did you start playing?
I’ve been playing hockey since I was six years old. I started playing partially because my Dad had played and also because I was jealous of my cousin who used to play. So when I asked my Dad if girls could play, he signed me up and I’ve been in love with the game ever since.
Do you or the team have any kind of good luck ritual?
I don’t think that I have a good luck ritual, but I certainly have some superstitions. I have a couple of songs I listen to before every game and a pattern of how I get ready in terms of gear prep. It just helps me get into the zone and focus on hockey.
Who was your idol growing up?
Patrick Roy. He was my favourite goalie for a very long time, and he also played for the Colorado Avalanche when I was in love with their team. I wanted to be the kind of goalie he was.
What is the best part of being a Gee-Gee?
The best part of being a Gee-Gee is probably how supportive our school is. We’re so lucky to be attending a university that cares as much about its student-athletes as it does its other students. We’re given a great opportunity at the U of O to play our sport at the highest level and attend a very academic school at the same time.
If you could play any other sport at the U of O, what would it be and why?
It would definitely be volleyball. I loved it growing up and particularly in high school. I just love how it is such a team sport and requires a lot of quick reflex actions and play anticipation, just like being a goalie in hockey.
What is the biggest misconception about women’s hockey?
I think the biggest misconception about women’s hockey is that it isn’t a physical sport. Although we’re not allowed body checking, we are definitely allowed body contact. Our games tend to get pretty physical, particularly when there are rivalries involved.
What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation, I would like to pursue a master’s degree in either sports psychology or neuroscience. Following that, I would love to work with athletes, whether it is helping them to train their mind to achieve consistent and controlled focus, or whether it is to work with an athlete recovering from a concussion. At the end of the day, when I’ve graduated and I’ve hung up my skates, I want to stay involved in sports as much as I can.
