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Lauren Bellefontaine played for Ontario Red during the 2017 Canadian U18 National Hockey tournament. She didn’t let the opportunity to represent her province go to waste, scoring the game-winning goal against Ontario Blue in the final and securing the team’s gold medal.

Before coming to Syracuse in 2018, Bellefontaine made an impact at the national level for Ontario Red, a youth team for Canadian national hockey. Bellefontaine always had “an incredible balance between confidence and cockiness,” said Shelby Calof, her teammate at Ontario Red and Syracuse.

Bellefontaine, a fifth-year graduate student, has been a consistent contributor since stepping on the ice for the Orange. In five seasons, Bellefontaine has over 100 career points (37 goals and 67 assists), ranking fourth all-time for the Orange. In 2021-22, she won College Hockey America Defensive Forward of the Year while setting the SU single-season record for faceoff wins. She was named team captain for the 2022-23 season, her last with Syracuse.

But before moving to Syracuse, Ontario Red tryouts were held in Toronto, four hours from Bellefontaine’s hometown, Kemptville. She had to travel frequently while playing for the Nepean Wildcats in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, the highest level of hockey at the junior level in Ontario. Most teams are located in the greater Toronto area.

“If you commit to that team, you know that 80 percent of your life is going to be hockey,” Calof said. “A lot of the girls in the team were in the same boat and most of us pursued it in college.”

At first, Bellefontaine didn’t make the commitment. She also starred on the soccer field, playing for Ottawa South United. According to former teammate Abby Moloughney, who played both soccer and ice hockey with her, Bellefontaine had “crazy speed” as a striker, saying she was “impossible to defend.”

In 10th grade, Bellefontaine could’ve played in the PWHL, but stayed at the Midget AA level — a step below — while still playing soccer. It was less of a time commitment. But, eventually, it came to a point where Bellefontaine had to pick between the two.

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Bellefontaine chose hockey, but she’d still juggle a soccer ball before her games, Moloughney said.

“I know that was really hard for her because she loved soccer as well,” Moloughney said. “She was really talented at it and had great footwork.”

Moloughney said the relationships Bellefontaine built when playing hockey led to her decision. She also feels it was the right choice for Bellefontaine, given her success with Nepean.

Before Nepean, Bellefontaine played locally in Kemptville, a small town of just under 4,000 people. Dominating her local league, Bellefontaine needed a challenge, so she switched to Nepean at 12-years-old.

Calof said there was previously a group of girls at Nepean who always excelled. But then came Bellefontaine, who surprised the team with her skills on the ice. Moloughney said Bellefontaine’s playmaking and vision stood out, labeling her an “unselfish player.” Bellefontaine constantly put her body on the line, diving in front of shots whenever possible, Moloughney said.

When Bellefontaine joined the Nepean junior team, having pivoted to pursue hockey full time, she upped her game. Bellefontaine was “one of the best players in the PWHL” during her first season, Moloughney said. Her strong play resulted in an invitation to try out for Team Ontario.

Calof said the tryouts were extremely competitive. The drills emphasized stickwork and passing, along with intense scrimmages. Fitness was tested vigorously, including “beep tests,” where skaters go back-and-forth, trying to skate the length of the ice in a certain amount of time.

Bellefontaine and Moloughney were cut in their first year of tryouts. But a year later, in 2017, they were invited back and made the squad. The team included top college players like Sarah Fillier and Claire Thompson, both of whom play for Princeton University.

Calof watched each game online and texted Bellefontaine afterward to congratulate her. After her tournament-winning goal, Bellefontaine didn’t take much credit, texting back “good team win.”

“I told her to be proud of herself for once, but she was again just so humble about it,” Calof said. “I think deep down she was probably screaming.”

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Bellefontaine made continuous improvements to her game, Moloughney said. There was never a specific year where she made a big jump, but she kept improving steadily as the years went on.

Calof recalls visiting Syracuse with Bellefontaine in 2015, where they realized they could end up at the school together. Bellefontaine verbally committed to the Orange that fall.

Bellefontaine made the transition look seamless, contributing for the Orange right away. She earned CHA Freshman of the Year honors, with seven goals and 13 assists on the season.

One of three graduate students on Syracuse’s roster, Bellefontaine has been an integral piece for first-year head coach Britni Smith. This season, she leads the team with 15 assists and has tied her career-best 22 points.

“Although it’s Britni’s team… it’s also good to have someone who’s been there for five years and can kind of give her two cents on how to lead the team.” Moloughney said.

Published on January 25, 2023 at 11:52 pm

Contact Zak: [email protected] | @ZakWolf22