The Catamount Tribune presented by Redstone Apartments and Lofts is an avenue for UVM student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, and fans to tell unique stories in their own words. This edition of the Catamount Tribune is written by Danielle Rancourt '14 an alumna of the women's hockey team. Interested in sharing your story for the Catamount Tribune? Please click here.

It all started in April 2010.

I was doing a post grad year at the Pursuit of Excellence (POE) Hockey Academy in Kelowna, BC. There I was, a 17-year old super senior giving my dream of playing Division I hockey one last shot. Moving to Kelowna was the most last-minute, spontaneous thing I had ever done. For those who don't know me personally, last-minute decisions aren't really my thing. But as I flew over the breathtaking west coast mountains, none of that mattered. For the first time in a long time, my dream felt within reach. Having already graduated from high school in Sudbury, Ontario, I dedicated most of my days to training and skill development. Oh, and I took a cooking class taught by an Australian woman…she was not a fan of our hockey schedule.

It was Easter weekend when Vermont offered me a spot on their roster for the upcoming season. Time stood still as I replayed the roller coaster ride that got me there. To this day, I truly believe I was meant to be a Catamount as so many odd puzzle pieces had to align for me to put on the Vermont jersey. From skipping my high school graduation for a recruiting tournament to moving cross-country on a whim to having a Division I offer revoked…it all fell into place. I even got my favorite number as a freshman, what are the odds? Like I said, the puzzle pieces just lined up. Burlington, Vermont was where I was meant to be for the next four years.

Academics came easy to me, however Division I college hockey was a reality check. It was a classic "big fish, small pond" situation where everyone had been a top player on their high school teams. Needless to say, freshman year was tough. I was recruited as a defenseman, the position I knew best and played my entire life, yet I was converted to forward within a month. It was a tough transition for me, but I chose to make it best of it. When summer came around, it was go-time. I trained 6-7 times a week with two trainers and started eating like an athlete rather than a teenager. Over those three and a half months, I watched my body truly transform for the first time. The freshman 15 I had (somehow) gained was gone; I was leaner and stronger than ever before. I remember doing a sprint workout with a friend and his dog and feeling a second gear kick in 20 yards out. I could not believe what my body could do. This is when I decided to switch my major from Biology (Pre-Med track) to Nutrition & Dietetics (keeping the pre-med track… just in case). I entered college thinking I wanted to be a pediatrician or a PA, but after seeing how nutrition enhanced my performance, I just had to pursue a profession in sports nutrition. I was hesitant to officially change my major knowing the overall career change would include a dramatic pay cut down the road, however, I decided I would be happier doing something I loved.

Sophomore year was better both on and off the ice, forming solid friendships, making friends on other teams, studying a topic I was more passionate about and I got to bounce back and forth from D to forward. That season I scored my first career goal and got my first game start, ironically the weekend of my grandma's funeral that I was unable to attend. Oh, and how could I forget studying for orgo (organic chemistry) at 1 am on team road trips to prove my professor wrong (he said that X percent would drop the class and that the rest would be lucky to get a C grade…probably a scare tactic, but I got an A- in addition to becoming a professional hexagon illustrator).

Junior year brought a new, fedora-wearing coach and multiple game starts but let me get this out before you think I became a first-line top scorer, because that's not what happened at all (eating healthy and training hard can only go so far). My line-mates and I were "grinders"; they basically sent us out first to stir things up (pressure/annoy the opponents). This gave Amanda Pelkey and Brittany Zuback a better chance to bury a backhand, bar-down goal afterward. Win-win, right?

The last twelve months of my time at UVM were most notable, though most of it happened off the ice. During the post season I became a mentor for CFES (College for Every Student). Having lunch with my mentee one day, a young boy who always seemed to be in detention, I noticed most CFES mentors were female athletes. So, I did what any amateur baker would do! I baked a double batch of peanut butter cookies and showed up to the men's ice hockey 6:00 AM lift to enlighten them; these kids needed solid male role models. I don't know if it was the cookies or my early morning enthusiasm (which my teammates did not appreciate on road trips), but the next time I visited Edmunds Elementary, I spotted a handful of the hockey guys eating lunch with their mentees. Mission accomplished.

It didn't stop there. That summer I decided to stay in Burlington to train for my senior year. I ended up volunteering at Burlington Meals on Wheels (MOW) to help pass the time, little did I know it was the beginning of something amazing. My Kelowna cooking class came in handy as the Chef had me assist with food prep and being a Dietetics student, I was tasked to create the monthly menu. Sometime in June I found out MOW's budget was being significantly reduced. Days later I found myself walking down the empty bleachers of Gutterson arena thinking to myself "How great would it be to fill the Gut for a women's hockey game AND raise money for charity?!" Next thing you know, PACK THE GUT was conceived to help raise funds for Meals on Wheels and attempt to break the Hockey East attendance record.

November 8^th, 2013. I remember standing on the blueline as the national anthem played, proudly wearing my Vermont jersey with a co-captain patch on top left corner. Though puck drop was seconds to minutes away, fans continued to filter their way into Gutterson Fieldhouse. The student section was filled with friends, other UVM athletes and kiddos from Edmunds Elementary. To help break the attendance record, some teachers even offered extra credit to students who came out to support.  Our parents were wearing their Vermont gear with more pride than ever. The atmosphere was truly electrifying. Though we lost the game, we won off the scoreboard that night. Not only did we break the Hockey East attendance record by hundreds of heads, we brought the community closer together. Our team chemistry grew even stronger, leading us into the best season in program history. We swept a top-10 ranked team on senior weekend and hosted a Hockey East playoff game for the very first time in an unforgettable triple overtime win. Although I didn't spend my final season as a grinding starter, it didn't matter. Everyone had their role and mine was that of a leader and role model.

On Sunday April 6, 2014, I anxiously stared at my computer screen awaiting my fate. Next thing you know, I screamed "I got in!" and within seconds my entire team rushed into our loft to celebrate; I was one of six applicants of 144 chosen for Saint Louis University's accelerated Nutrition and Physical Performance Master's program! The good news kept on coming for the next two months. I was awarded the Outstanding Athlete Award for achievements in sport, academics and community service, the Jeff Stone Memorial Award for Community Service and Campus Leadership and was named one of five finalists for the NCAA's Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Growing up, I thought I was going to be a hockey superstar (who didn't, right?). Turns out hockey was the vehicle to a different kind of success. Someone once asked me if I would change anything if I could go back in time. It makes me laugh thinking of how stubborn a child I was, having to be paid to shoot pucks in my own backyard. I definitely would have been a better skater had I let my dad have his way and sign me up for power skating lessons. But, had I been a stronger skater, I would not have attended POE in Kelowna to ameliorate my skating skills which ultimately led to Vermont and then St. Louis.

The first couple months in St. Louis left me feeling a little lost as for the first time in my life, I was not an athlete. Lucky for me, one of my dietetic preceptors mentioned she had a friend who played men's hockey. He was so excited to find out I was also Canadian (there aren't many in St. Louis) that he immediately invited me to the next pick-up skate. Next thing you know, I had myself a (men's) hockey team to play on! Since we only skated 1-2x per week (at 10:30pm), I still needed something to train for. My roommate suggested I sign up for a half marathon which was a perfect since it was one of the items on my Bucket List. I still remember asking her what pace/time I should aim for and her reply was to simply cross the finish line. The athlete in me needed a measurable goal, so I did some research and concluded that running 13.1 miles in less than two hours was challenging yet achievable for a first-timer. On April 12, 2015, I crossed "Run a half marathon" off my Bucket List, scribbling 1:55:22 next to it, check! A few months later I found myself a traveling women's hockey team to play on, but before I could get a team jersey with my name on it, it was time to head home with my Master's degree and RD credential to figure out my next move (aka find a job).

During my 16-hour road trip back to Sudbury, I received an email from EXOS/Altru Sports Advantage offering me the Performance Dietitian position in Grand Forks, North Dakota. When people ask me how I ended up in Grand Forks, they cannot believe I chose North Dakota over one of my warmer options (Texas or California). Being a Canadian hockey player, I figured I would feel at home and easily make friends in a hockey town like Grand Forks. When I traveled here with UVM in 2011 to play UND's women's hockey team, I never thought I'd return to Grand Forks or someday become good friends with the feisty Lamoureux Twins. Life is funny that way, one day your battling for a puck and the next you're "Auntie Dani" planning a combined baby shower.
Upon accepting the job offer I told myself I would live in Grand Forks for three years and pursue something closer to home once I got a few years of experience under my belt…things did not go as planned. The town and people grew on me, so instead of leaving at my three-year mark, I did the unexpected and bought a house. Grand Forks is now the place I call home with a handsome firefighter and stuffed animal looking golden doodle.

Since moving to North Dakota, I've added a handful of accomplishments to my resume: I coached the local U14 girls' team to a state title and became a Certified Performance Specialist (XPS) as well as a Certified Sports Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). I also had to opportunity to write a few columns for my dad's favorite magazine, The Hockey News. Since 2016 I have been contributing recipes and articles as Girl Can Cook for It's Her Brand Magazine, a Nord Dakota-based magazine that provides women and their families with a platform to share and celebrate their stories.

What's next? Getting my CSCS credentials, writing a recipe book and starting a nutrition blog/website. A wedding and family might happen for me one day, but for now, I'm just going to continue taking hundreds of photos of my dog and provide nutrition support to our clients and the community during these uncertain times.

Though I'm no doctor (as I chose the dietitian route instead), I do know that being in good health is more important than ever before. This said, we must continue to take care of ourselves, focusing on what we can control such as our attitude, fitness, and nutrition. Since nutrition is where my expertise lies, here are some take-home tips while you spend a little more time at home.
 
General Nutrition Tips:

• Plan and maintain a regular meal/snack schedule
• Avoid drinking your calories; choose water most often
• Increase consumption of whole foods, especially fruits and veggies
• Limit junk/processed foods
• Cook in batches and freeze
• Avoid "hanging out" in the kitchen area unless cooking or sitting down for a meal
• Enjoy meals and snacks without digital distractions (TV, phone, iPad, etc.)
• Eat when physically hungry (BLOG: Emotional vs Physical Hunger)

Immunity-boosting nutrients:

• Zinc: Oysters, wheat germ, crab, lobster, lamb, beef, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms
• Vitamin A: carrots, sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, kale, cod liver oil, collards, turnip greens
• Vitamin C: orange, yellow pepper, kiwi, chili pepper, strawberries, papaya, broccoli, kale
• Vitamin D*: sunshine, cod liver oil, beef liver, fatty fish, eggs yolks, fortified dairy/cereal/OJ

*Consider supplementing with 800+ IU's Vitamin D3 per day. Talk to your doctor.

Healthy Take-Out Tips:
Full article: Take-Out Tips for the Whole Family

1. Ditch deep fried foods (fries, chips, chicken tenders, onion rings, cheese sticks, wings)
2. Enjoy an appetizer sample rather than a serving (have a piece and save your appetite for the entrée)
3. Select a balanced plate with appropriate portions of lean protein, whole grains and veggies.
4. Choose whole grains (wheat crust, brown rice) over refined carbohydrates (white rice, buns, pasta)
5. Load up on veggies (steamed, raw, lightly sautéed or roasted)
6. Go lean with protein (grilled shrimp/chicken, filet, tenderloin, salmon, seared tuna)
7. Select smart sides (fresh greens, garden salad with vinaigrette, steamed broccoli, mixed vegetables, asparagus, broth-based soups, fresh fruit, tomato slices
8. Portion it out (most restaurant portions are 2-3X a single serving; share or divide)

For recipes and weekly nutrition tips, follow me on Instagram @dani_the_rd
 
Thank you UVM, for realizing my dream and fueling the next one!
Danielle Rancourt
UVM 2014