Gascon becomes third female goalie to play in QMJHL in Olympiques'overtime loss

GATINEAU, Que. — Eve Gascon didn’t get a win on the ice Saturday, but she definitely felt like a winner.

Gascon became just the third female player to play in the QMJHL as she followed in the footsteps of Manon Rheaume and Charline Labonte, who both reached out to Gascon earlier this week to wish her well.

Olympic champion Marie-Philip Poulin also sent her best wishes.

The amount of attention was a little surreal for Gascon, but she did her best to soak it all in and enjoy the moment.

The 18-year-old made 18 saves for the Gatineau Olympiques in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Rimouski Oceanic in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,700 at the Centre Slush Puppie, a first for the new facility.

“I can’t even begin to describe what I was feeling,” said Gascon. “I had my best friends and family in the crowd so it was really special; it was a great moment. I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”

Gascon admitted she expected to get some attention when the Olympiques announced she would start Saturday, but she said it surpassed her expectations and was a little overwhelming at times.

The atmosphere in the building was electric and the crowd cheered loudly as Gascon was given the full rookie treatment as her teammates allowed her a solo lap prior to warm-ups.

Gascon didn’t initially realize she was alone and once she did, she just wanted to make sure she didn’t fall down.

Olympiques captain Manix Landry said the team was disappointed they couldn’t get the win for Gascon.

“We all knew this was a historical game for junior hockey and women’s hockey,” said Landry. “It would have been nice for Eve and for us to get the win.”

There was little doubt as to who the crowd was here to see.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting that kind of