Wahnapitae Anishinaabekwe joins U.S. women’s roster for international ice hockey world championship
By Rick Garrick
CALGARY — Wahnapitae First Nation’s Abby Roque is looking forward to playing with the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship from Aug. 20-31 in Calgary.
“We had a pre-camp in Minnesota and we got to scrimmage our U23 team,” says Roque, a dual citizen who previously won gold with the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship. “We did some video and stuff in practice there and we’re in the bubble now just working with what we can in our hotel rooms in quarantine. We’re just excited to finally get on the ice together after a long period of no games with COVID-19 and all that, so I think that’s just our main thing is just excitement to get to play.”
Roque says she is a physical two-way centre who models her game after Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins.
“I try to be a two-way centre, strong on the puck and make some plays,” Roque says. “As a centre, obviously I have to play defence and forward. It helps me on both sides of the ice just knowing how other teams are trying to play defensively against me and against our line.”
Roque says she enjoys hockey because of the speed of the game and the friendships she has developed with other players. She was recognized with the 2020 Bob Allen Women’s Hockey Player of the Year, the 2020 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year and the 2020 USCHO (U.S. College Hockey Online) D-1 Women’s Player of the Year.
“I love it just for the sport itself – it’s so fast,” Roque says. “The other thing is you make so many friendships along the way — it’s such a social sport and you become so close to your teammates. For me, that’s why I really love playing hockey so much.”
Roque’s future goal is to play in the Olympics with the U.S. Women’s National Team. She was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
“I want to be on this national team,” Roque says. “I want to continue making this roster and hopefully that leads to making this Olympic team and continuing our success with U.S. hockey.”
Roque says she grew up around hockey, as her father Jim Roque was a hockey coach and is now a pro scout with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“When I was younger, my parents wanted me to be a figure skater,” Roque says. “But I just really wanted to play hockey, so eventually I got my way and I started skating in my backyard ice rink. I started skating at probably four or five in Mite leagues, and I played boy’s hockey all the way through high school.”
Roque says she enjoyed playing with the University of Wisconsin Badgers, where she was recruited after playing four years at Sault Area High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
“It was amazing, it’s one of the best programs for hockey in the nation so being there was just awesome,” Roque says. “There’s a history of a lot of great players coming out of there, and I was playing with awesome players as well who just push you so it’s definitely helped my development a lot. The city is awesome, the fans are amazing, they sell out every game and we just had the best facilities. It’s really just a professional atmosphere to be in.”
Roque says winning the national championship during her junior year in 2019 was the biggest highlight of her years with the Badgers.
“And just every home game playing in front of a packed LaBahn Arena was just awesome,” Roque says.