The prospect and the vet: Primerano, Larocque battle for spots on Canada's Olympic blue line

When a teenaged Chloe Primerano made her debut on the Canadian women’s hockey team last season, Jocelyne Larocque was often the steady force beside her on the blue line.

Primerano, who was 17 years old at the time, immediately started to soak up wisdom from then-36-year-old Larocque, who’s been on the senior national team since Primerano was four years old.

The first lesson was how dependable Larocque is. She’s built a career doing things right both on and off the ice.

“She's so reliable and just an amazing person, too,” Primerano said in an interview at a Canadian team camp earlier this year.

The veteran also saw plenty of great things from the rookie, who has a hockey IQ well beyond her years. Being Primerano’s defensive partner gave Larocque a close-up view of the young player’s skill, from her shot to her stickhandling.

But that wasn’t her favourite thing about Primerano.

“She's just eager to get better,” Larocque told CBC Sports. “That's what I love the most about her is she's constantly watching, trying to get better, working really hard and giving it all every practice. She's such an exciting player for Canada and we're really lucky to have her.”

The battle on Canada's blue line

Both Larocque and Primerano are working to make the Canadian Olympic team that will look to defend gold in Italy in February.

It would be Primerano’s first Olympics. She would be the youngest to make the team since Marie-Philip Poulin did it in 2010.

For Larocque, it would be her fourth Games, and a chance to add a third gold medal in a storied career.

Both are part of the pool of players that could compete in one final Rivalry Series game against the United States on Saturday night in Edmonton. It could be the last chance to show Canadian