Jill of all trades: from athlete to educator

STORY BY DARYLL HINVES

Not many students can brag about having a professional hockey player for a teacher.

Carolyne Prevost plays left wing for Toronto Furies, and is also a math, gym and science teacher at Gaétan-Gervais, a French high school in Oakville.

The 24-year-old Sarnia native has been an athlete all her life. She is a seven-time Canadian national champion in three different sports, including two titles in hockey, one in soccer and four in taekwondo.

Prevost began her hockey career when she was 6, alongside her twin sister, Katrine, and it has been a huge part of her life ever since.

“Almost right away when I started playing hockey, it was competitive,” she said in an e-mail interview. “I am from a smaller town and we would frequently have tournaments in the Toronto area, these tournaments are some of my favourite memories growing up playing hockey.”

After playing for the London Junior Devilettes of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, Prevost joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, part of the NCAA, in 2008 while studying kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin. Soon after, she began playing for the Wisconsin Badgers.

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After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2012, Prevost joined the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and it was difficult to adjust at first.

“When I first entered the CWHL, I definitely had to adjust to the league because we were not on the ice every day like we were in the NCAA. We were basically on our own for training because everyone had different work schedules,” she said. “It has nonetheless been a great experience and a great pleasure to play in a league that is in constant growth.”

Prevost was drafted 15^th overall by the Montreal Stars in December 2012. Last year, she began playing for the Toronto Furies and won her first Clarkson Cup, which was “an amazing experience.

“My favourite part about playing in the CWHL is that I am still able to play the sport I love. For a long time, there wasn’t really a competitive league for players to play after college,” she said. “The league has grown so much in the past few years, and continues to grow every year. It’s exciting to be part of this league and having the chance to play with and against some of the best players in the world on a regular basis.”

Along with her busy and fulfilling hockey career, Prevost has been a Crossfit athlete since joining the CWHL.

After hearing about Crossfit from a few of her friends, Prevost decided to give it a try.

“I found myself wanting something new and challenging. In the CWHL, the players are basically responsible for their own off-ice training and don’t often train together because of people’s commitment to work. Therefore, I found myself wanting something that would keep me motivated, and that’s when I found Crossfit.”

Since starting Crossfit, Prevost has seen a huge difference in her fitness, and in her game on the ice. She has also had the opportunity to compete in many Crossfit competitions.

Although her athletic life leaves her fulfilled, it keeps her life eventful.

“I am definitely extremely busy right now trying to balance Crossfit, hockey and a new career as a teacher,” she said. “I also help coach different sports teams at the school and train a few hockey and soccer kids in Crossfit.”

Prevost’s life is hectic, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“ I have always been busy growing up with sports and school and so it is not something that is new for me. In order to balance everything out, I have to prioritize things and make a lot of sacrifices,” she said. “However, the experiences I have had in teaching, coaching or through my sports have been absolutely amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”