Veronike Lacasse
Ronnie brings a calmness to the pitch that is felt by her whole team
Veronike is a fourth-year student in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, hoping to pursue a career in physiotherapy. She was introduced to field hockey in 9th grade Phys ed. class and knew the sport was for her. She loved the physical and tactical aspects of the game and that it was going to be a new challenge. Veronike joined the Nighthawks at U18 (2017) and that same year made the Ontario East U18 team and participated in Nationals in Surrey, BC (2017). She has also played in the University of Ottawa’s field hockey club from 2017-2020.
Her proudest accomplishment in field hockey so far was being selected for the Ontario East U18 team. Veronike remembers not even wanting to try out for the team as it was her first year of club field hockey and felt so out of her league. She was so nervous going into tryouts and almost gave up halfway through because she was so discouraged with her level of experience and skill compared to the other girls. Finding out that she had made the team was the most incredible feeling as she knew that her perseverance and hard work had paid off.
Veronike would love for field hockey to be more openly advertised, the same way ice hockey and soccer are. It is currently a small niche sport that not many people know of and she would love to see a sport that has so greatly impacted her reach more people and continue to grow.
“I grew up involved in athletics and sports are such an important part of my life, they allowed me to meet so many new people, learn new things about myself and go on a ton of different adventures. I not only have a passion for playing but also for coaching, I absolutely love being able to share what was such a big part of my life with others and inspire young girls to get out of their comfort zone and do what makes them happy.
On a non-sport side, I am the clumsiest person ever and if there is something to trip over or bump into I’m the one who is going to do it! Field hockey to me means a place where I can have fun and always learn new things. There is not a single time I have shown up to the pitch and left without having learnt something, whether it be something about the game, a new skill, something about myself that I hadn’t yet had the chance to discover. Field hockey also means family, a community where we can come together and share our passion of the game. Field hockey has served as an escape for me. When I show up to the pitch it is a space where I can clear my mind and be fully invested in the game and having fun. Field hockey has brought me so many new friends and has allowed me to create relationships with people that I wouldn’t have otherwise met.” – Ronnie