Defence partners Larocque, Fast bring 'unmatched' chemistry to PWHL Toronto blue line

With six new teams, the Professional Women's Hockey League's pre-season games in Utica, N.Y., this week have been a chance to get to know new linemates and start to build chemistry ahead of January's regular season puck drop.

But on PWHL Toronto's blue line, the top two defenders need no introduction with each other. 

Jocelyne Larocque and Renata Fast have been defensive partners on Team Canada for the last three years, winning an Olympic gold medal and two world championships by each other's side.

They go together like peanut butter and jelly, or as most people who've played against them would probably say, a rock and a hard place.

Both are gritty, stay-at-home defenders, with Larocque bringing veteran leadership and physicality, and Fast adding world-class speed to the mix.

"I love the way they play and I love playing against it," said PWHL Ottawa forward Emily Clark, who said the two are who she's least looking forward to playing against this season. "But at the same time, I know that they'll make my life difficult."

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Larocque and Fast's friendship started at the latter's very first senior Team Canada camp almost a decade ago, when the two were paired together on defence. Fast was nervous.

But when Fast arrived at the rink for their first game paired together, she found a note from Larocque in her locker stall.

WATCH | Fast describes her inspiring first encounter with Larocque:

In it, Larocque wrote that she was excited to play with Fast and told her to keep the game simple.

Fast had looked up to the veteran and the note gave her confidence in her new environment.

Fast didn't make those first couple of Team Canada rosters, and always found herself