A Grade 11 student from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Noémie Cloutier was the heart, soul and rock of the prep girls hockey team all through last weekend's JWHL playoffs. With the team down two defenders all weekend due to injuries, the team’s captain played every second shift on defence. Not only did she perform her regular duties of shutting down the opposition’s offensive threats, but she also contributed offensively by scoring her first goal of the season in the opening game. She played through the pain of badly bruised ribs and never complained about it. Wanting a championship so badly, she showed up three hours early at 6:00 am to prepare for the big game. The girls could not have pulled it off this weekend without her leadership and unconditional dedication to a team-first attitude. Congratulations, Athlete of the week Noémie Cloutier.