U coach 'shocked' at departure of top 2 scorers for N. Dakota

David Brewster, Star Tribune

Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux

Grand Forks natives Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux are returning to their roots, and say their decision was difficult.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: May 27, 2009 - 1:59 PM

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GOPHERS WOMEN'S HOCKEY

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The dynamic, feisty Lamoureux twins, who led the Gophers women's hockey team in scoring as freshmen, are going to transfer to North Dakota to play for their hometown school.

Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux's departure is a huge blow to Minnesota's program. They helped the Gophers (32-5-3) reach the NCAA women's Frozen Four this season and were WCHA first-team all-conference picks. Monique was named the conference's rookie of the year.

"I can't get into the specifics about it -- I was definitely shocked when they informed me," Gophers coach Brad Frost said.

The Lamoureuxs asked to be released from their scholarships last week and Frost granted their request Tuesday.

"We feel this is in our best interests. It's what is right for us," Jocelyne Lamoureux said. "Obviously, the Fighting Sioux runs in our family. But Monique and I made the decision, and we have no parting jabs for Minnesota."

The Lamoureuxs are part of a close-knit hockey family whose home is in Grand Forks, N.D. Their father, Jean-Pierre, and their oldest brother, J.P., were both goalies at North Dakota. Mario, their youngest brother, was a freshman forward on the Fighting Sioux this season.

The women's hockey team at North Dakota was 13-19-4 this season and tied for fifth in the eight-team league. The Gophers won the regular- season title.

"We had a great team [at Minnesota] and obviously made some great friends we will try to keep in contact with," Jocelyne Lamoureux said. "It was a hard decision."

Next season the Lamoureuxs hope to be members of the U.S. women's hockey team in the Vancouver Olympics. In April, they played for a national team which won the gold medal in the women's world championships in Finland.

"We are going to work as hard as we possibly can, but there [are] no guarantees," said Jocelyne Lamoureux, referring to spots on the Olympic team.

The twins will participate in a training camp in Colorado next month and in the final tryout camp at the Super Rink in Blaine in August.

If they make the Olympic team, they would still have to sit out one college season, meaning they would not be eligible to play for North Dakota until the 2011-12 season.

Frost expects the Lamoureuxs to be Olympians. "They had great years for us," he said. "As I spoke all year, they can score, they are good hockey players, they are good people. They bring some toughness to the team. That hasn't changed just because they are transferring."

The Lamoureuxs played on the same line, Jocelyne at center, Monique at right wing, and led the team in penalties.

They were the cornerstone of one of the nation's top recruiting classes. Frost signed them in his first season after being hired as the Gophers coach; in 2007-08 he was the interim coach.

"We will have to get out on the recruiting trail and get some top-notch kids in here again," Frost said. "We think we have that ability to continue to attract and draw the top players."

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