Monique Edith Lamoureux-Morando (born July 3, 1989), previously known as Monique Lamoureux-Kolls,[1] is an American former ice hockey player. She scored the game-tying goal in the final of the 2018 Winter Olympics before her twin sister Jocelyne scored the last shootout goal of the game to clinch the gold medal.
She also captured silver medals for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.[2] She competed for a year with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association, a worker's union pushing for equality in the sport, and retired from playing in 2021.[3] After her retirement, Monique and her twin sister published their first book Dare to Make History.[4] The sisters also founded the Lamoureux Foundation, which funds educational and extracurricular programs for children in need, primarily in their home state of North Dakota.[5]
Playing career
Lamoureux and her twin sister were from a family deeply dedicated to ice hockey.[6] Together, they played on the Peewee A Boys' team in 2001–02 (called the Seawolves) and led them to the peewee North Dakota State Hockey championship. Afterwards, they accepted a scholarship to Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Minnesota, the same school at which Sidney Crosby played. At Shattuck-St. Mary's, the Lamoureux sisters led the school to the three national titles in 2005, 2006, and 2007.[7] In her freshman year at Shattuck (2004–05), she tallied 113 points (57 goals, 56 assists) in 62 games. She had 116 points (53 goals, 63 assists) in 68 games in 2005–06 to place third on the team in points and second in goals. As a junior, she ranked first on the team in 2006–07 with 135 points (85 goals, 50 assists). She led the team with 134 points (82 goals, 52 assists) as a senior in 2007–08 and helped Shattuck to a 53–3–1 record.[8]
Minnesota Golden Gophers
As a freshman for the Gophers in 2008–09, she was the team's third leading goal scorer, and a second team All-America selection.[6] By mid-February 2009, Lamoureux was leading the nation with 64 points on 32 assists and 32 goals.[9] By season's end, she ranked third in the NCAA and first among rookies with 75 points in 40 games (39 goals, 36 assists). She ranked second in the nation with five shorthanded goals and tied for third with eight game-winners. She participated in her first Frozen Four that season. In addition, she was the WCHA scoring champion, and WCHA Rookie of the Year. She was the only freshman to be named a top-10 finalist for Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.[8]
North Dakota Fighting Sioux
In 2009, Lamoureux and her sister transferred from Minnesota to North Dakota. The reason for the transfer to their home state was attributed to the fact that North Dakota hired Brian Idalski, a former coach at the USA Hockey Development Camps.[6] On January 15 and 16, 2011, she led the Fighting Sioux with five points in two victories over league rival Bemidji State. She earned a +7 plus/minus rating in her first weekend playing exclusively as a defenseman. In the series against Bemidji, she scored two goals and assisted on three others as
North Dakota ran its unbeaten streak to five games at 4–0–1. Over 59 collegiate games, she has accumulated 107 points (54 goals, 53 assists).[10]
USA Hockey
With her twin sister, she was a four-time USA Hockey Player Development Camp attendee (2004–07). She was a member of the United States Women's Select Team for the 2006 Four Nations Cup. The team finished in second place. In 2008, she was part of the United States Women's Under-22 Select Team for the 2008 Under-22 Series. In addition, she was a two-time USA Hockey Women's National Festival participant (2008–09). Along with her sister, she was a member of the United States Women's National Team for the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship that won the gold medal.[8] She won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics with the 2009–10 USA Hockey national women's team. Monique and her sister Jocelyne were the first set of twins ever to play women's ice hockey in the Olympics.[11] Lamoureux-Kolls was named to the roster for the 2010 Four Nations Cup.[12] In the opening match of the 2012 IIHF World Women's Championships, Lamoureux scored two goals in a 9–2 win over Canada.[13] Her sister Jocelyne scored three goals while assisting on three others.
CWHL
Selected by the Boston Blades in the 2014 CWHL Draft, Lamoureux would win the 2015 Clarkson Cup. In the third period of an 8–0 win on January 18, 2015, for the Boston Blades over the Brampton Thunder, a fight took place. Lamoureux and Brampton's Jamie Lee Rattray both threw punches,[14] as video footage went viral online.
On February 23, 2021, Jocelyne and her twin sister published Dare to Make History, a memoir chronicling their journey to the pinnacle of the hockey world.[4]
