Les Canadiennes Charline Labonté announces retirement from hockey in September. She capped an illustrious career by backstopping the Canadian Women’s Hockey League Les Canadiennes de Montreal to the 2017 Clarkson Cup Championship. Labonté retires as one of the most decorated netminders in Canadian women’s hockey history.
Les Canadiennes Charline Labonté Announces Retirement
QMJHL
Labonté who was on 10-15-82 in Boisbriand, Que., the netminder was drafted by Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. She was the second female to play in the league after fellow netminder Manon Rheaume. Labonté dressed for 26 games in the 1999-2000 season after thinking she wouldn’t make the squad. Her record was 4-9-2, she played 1045 minutes with a GAA OF 5.22 a SVS% of .841 with 573 saves. In the 2000-2001 season she dressed for 2 games with a line of 0-0-0, 60 minutes played, GAA of 6.00, SVS% of .786 with 28 saves.
Hockey Canada
On the world stage with Hockey Canada Labonté captured 3 Olympic Gold, 2 World Championship Gold and 6 World Championship Silver. As of her retirement Labonté owns a record of 45-12-1. In 3374 minutes played she has a GAA of 1.51 and a SVS% of .919 along with 1650 saves and 16 shutouts. Labonté ranks 2nd in games won, shutouts and games played.
In the Torino Games Labonté and Kim St. Pierre combined for only 2 goals allowed in 5 games. Labonté had 180 minutes of ice time with a 0.33 GAA and a .976 SVS%, which led all netminders. In 2010 she played 1game with a 3.00 GAA and a .899 SVS%. In the 2016 games her stat line was 2 games, 1.00 GAA with a .951 SVS%.
Labonté shined in the IIHF World Championships as well, as a Gold medalist in 2007 and 2012 and Silver in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016. Her best showing was in 2005 in Sweden. Labonté boasted a World Championships best GAA of 0.00 and SVS% of 1.000.
McGill Martlets
As a member of the McGill Martlets Labonté competed in 5 CIS National Tournaments. Labonte backstopped the Martlets to 3 CIS (W) Championships in 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011. Her Career line is 180 GP with a record of 160-17-3 with 81 shutouts with a GAA of 0.98 and a .948 SVS%. Labonté coached at McGill starting in the 2014-2015 going through the 2016-2017 season.
NWHL & CWHL
In 2005-2006 Laboné played for the Montreal Axion in the National Women’s Hockey League. In the playoffs that season she played in 3 games with a GAA of 0.67 and a SVS% of .978. She backstopped a 1-0 shoutout for Montreal’s only NWHL Championship. Labonté also dressed for the Laval Le Mistral as well.
In 2012-2013 Labonté was a 1st round draft pick by the CWHL’s Montreal Stars. She played for the Stars(in 2015-2016 they changed the name to the Canadiennes) from the 2014-2015 season through the 2016-2017 season. In Labonté final season she was the CWHL’s Regular Season Goalie of the Year. 2016-2017 post season honors include the Clarkson Cup Playoff MVP and First Star of the Game 2017, as Labonté and the Les Canadiennes do Montreal were the 2017 Clarkson Cup Champions.
Labonté’s Announces Retirement
Labonté had commented that “Last season there were a couple of times where I felt I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this anymore.” She added “Everything that didn’t bother me before started to bother me a bit so that was kind of like a cue to say may its time to go.”
As for life after hockey, Labonté has started taking classes at the Ecole des Metiers de la Restauration er du Tourisme de Montreal. It’s a top flight school for aspiring chefs. Labonté will continue to be involved in hockey through coaching and sports psychology consultation. Congrats on an amazing career and best of luck in your future endeavors Charline.
On to the next chapter.. pic.twitter.com/Ua1ZJeo3K3
— Charline Labonte (@Labonte32) September 25, 2017
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
