PROFILE: Kailey Lapensée reflects on school, sport, and Sudbury
Kailey Lapensée didn't plan on spending the 2020-21 hockey season in Sudbury. But as many Gee-Gees women's hockey players have already learned, plans can quickly disappear when it comes to illnesses.
In 2018, Kailey lost her dear friend Mélisa Kingsley to cancer. The two were teammates growing up together in Sudbury, Ont., and then with the Gee-Gees, and Lapensée was one of the key figures in organizing the first Mélisa Kingsley Memorial Game. The game, a celebration of Mélisa and a fundraiser for a scholarship at uOttawa in her honour, was played in January 2020 and created a significant legacy within the Gee-Gees women's hockey team.
Lapensée, a fourth-year Telfer School of Management student, was the first recipient of the Mélisa Kingsley Memorial Scholarship. She recently spent some time reflecting on her senior year in pandemic mode, which has seen her focussed on academics and overall health, and shared her thoughts.
"I've had a chance to spend more time than usual in Sudbury this year because of COVID and so I am able to stay connected to everyone in some way," says Lapensée of her hometown links. "I am happy to have more time at home with my family and my dog since I have been away from home for so long."
"Sudbury is a very tight knit community and hockey is normally a huge part so in that sense it's more difficult to connect," she continues, "but the community has adopted some online practices to help everyone feel a sense of community."
The connections remain strong on the Garnet and Grey side as well. "It is really difficult to maintain an athlete mentality when there are no games, practices, or training sessions, but my team has done a great job at keeping everyone in touch and challenging each other to stay active." Lapensée adds that getting outside and her at-home-workouts help keep her motivated.
On the academic front, Lapensée has achieved some milestones recently. "Going into my third year [2019-20] I started thinking about my plan after graduation and the possibility of doing a Master's."
"I made it a goal of mine to work harder in my classes to achieve a higher standing," she explains. That goal setting has paid off in the form of a 2019-20 Academic All-Canadian award - which Lapensée takes tremendous pride in - and an exciting new path for 2021-22.
"Immediately upon graduation I will be moving to Toronto to pursue a Master of Business Analytics at the Schulich School of Business at York. I am very excited to advance my education before joining the work force and I think this program will open a lot more doors for the future."
Yes, plans may change but doors can still open. And teammates, communities, and friends from the past can inspire us to walk, or skate, through them.
To make a donation to the Mélisa Kingsley Memorial Scholarship at uOttawa, please visit this page. Consider donating $23 in honour of Mélisa's jersey number.
