Ste. Anne, small Manitoba hometown of 2 Olympians, beaming with pride

People living in the small Manitoba townof Ste. Anneare getting ready to send their love and pride to Pyeongchang, South Korea, where two of their own will compete forTeam Canada in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Defenceman Jocelyne Larocqueand forward Bailey Bramare in Pyeongchangto play with Canada's national women's hockey team, and people living in their hometown of Ste. Anne a bedroom community located 43 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, with a population of just over 2,100 couldn'tbe prouder.

"We're such a small community and to have two Olympians from Ste. Anneis something to be surely quite proud of," said librarian Shannon Lenton.

A third Manitoban Brigette Lacquette,from Mallard, Man. has also been named to the team.

At the Old No. 12 Caf and Lounge, framed photos of the two women hang on the wall along with a signed jersey, but the community's pride is perhaps most evident intwo Canadian flags covered with signatures from fans inside the town's library. Theplayers' parents will hand-deliver the flags to their daughters when they fly to Pyeongchangthis weekend.

Young relatives of the athletes have left their handprints on the flags, and students from schools in the town have stopped by to add their names.

"They're really quite proud of the girls. This is something that everybody can't wait to watch and cheer on," Lenton said.

Bailey Bram's parents, Bill and Bonnie,have been counting down the sleeps till they get to see their daughter at the Olympics unlike Larocque, Bailey didn'tmake it to the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. She wascut from the team just weeks before those Games.

"She didn't give up when she was the last cut," said Bonnie, who told her daughter to go back to Team Canada's training camp to give it another shot. She did and fell in love instantly.

"If you work hard your dreams do come true," said Bonnie.

"I'm very proud of her," said Bill. "You don't need to be from a big city.It's just a matter of getting on the ice and wanting it."

Jude Boulianne,a retired teacher and a family friend of the Larocques and the Brams,knew both Olympians when they were growing up.

He said their determination was evident from an early age. He points out thatLarocque played on the boys' hockey team because there was no team for girls in the community.

"She was the hardest-working kid. She wanted to be there," he said, adding thatboth girls were set onplaying hockey.

"It's where they belong. They earned it and they were relentless on wanting to be there. They were just passionate about that game and they made it because they wanted to," he said.

"It's amazing two girls from a little town like here, and I think there could be more."

Ste. Anne's support of hometown hockey Olympians Jocelyne Larocque and Bailey Bram

7 years ago

Duration 1:45

People living in the small Manitoba town of Ste. Anne are getting ready to send their love and pride to Pyeongchang, South Korea, where two of their own will compete for Team Canada in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.