The Lamoureux Sisters Dared to Make History

Dare to Make History, Chasing a Dream and Fighting for Equity

By: Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando

               Dare to Make History is a memoir and inspirational autobiography that empowers young women to chase their dreams. The Lamoureux sisters are three-time Olympic ice hockey medalists from the 2010, 2014 and 2018 winter Olympics. In the book, they detail their path from growing up in Grand Forks, North Dakota to reaching one of the highest goals in women’s ice hockey by winning a gold medal in the Olympics. That path has not been easy for them, or other women, fighting for equality in the ice hockey world. The book recognizes their climb to the top of success in women’s ice hockey, and sends a message of empowerment, hope and a look to the future for women’s ice hockey.

               The book is structured as an intimate conversation with each of the sisters. It is an active discussion, where each sister delivers their message and interpretation on the events or topic at hand. This structure keeps the book lively and the reader can see that although they are twins, they have different perspectives and experiences to share. In creating this structure, they allowed the reader to have a “private” conversation with each sister. The book vividly carries the reader in a journey through time, as we skate alongside the Lamoureux sisters’ competitive climb to the top of women’s ice hockey.

               Dare to Make History is not just a look back at the sisters’ path to success, but a chronicle of the history that many young girls and women faced, and continue to face, in ice hockey. From the beginning of their careers as mites on the ice, the sisters experienced discrimination from others as the only girls on the team. Onlookers doubted they could play with boys, and it was up to them to prove them wrong. This anecdote was one of many in the book that provides inspiration and hope as the twins learn of the challenges early on in life.

              This early fight for equality as a child was a foreshadowing of what was to come.  As the sisters got older, they fought that fight on the big stage.  They engaged USA Hockey in a battle for equality starting 2015 to expand marketing, programming and opportunities for girls and women in hockey. They supported other nations (Sweden) in their quest for equality in 2019. They helped to achieve a maternity policy for women hockey players, and were the first two women to take advantage of this policy. The sisters joined together with other female hockey leaders to create the Professional Women’s Hockey Player Association (PWHPA) in 2019. The PWHPA committed to not play that year in an effort to spread the hope for equality by playing 6 games in the US and Canada and raise awareness of women’s ice hockey. These are a few examples of the obstacles they faced and overcame. This book provides an emotional and inspiring view of those events.

Dare to Make History is a must read for every young girl playing hockey. It is literally a recipe for success, grit and determination. The lessons learned in this book are real. And the structure of the book makes this an easy read, even for a younger reader. The book leaves the reader with a strong message, that chasing your dream of success and equality isn’t just for you, but it’s for the next generation to come and it’s well worth it.