Chloé Aurard: “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved”

Chloé Aurard: “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved”

The young Blues forward, the number 17 tricolor Chloé Aurard, spoke about her life in the NCAA with the American varsity team Northeastern, with whom she shines this season (21 points including 11 goals in 21 games). The new deputy captain of the France team also spoke about her new role in her squad, the world’s elite in Canada in April, but also her personal and collective aspirations.

Image rights: Théo Bariller-Krine

How’s the start of the season going? Are you happy with your current performance with Northeastern in the NCAA?

The start of the season is going really well. 12 players left last year, which means we have quite a young squad today. The newcomers all have the level to play with us. In terms of results we’re top of the group (note: 1st out of 10 with 44 points) so I can’t ask for better. Other than that, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, I’ve progressed well in five years at Northeastern. I’m starting to use my qualities more and more. That makes me proud, but it’s also good for my future career as a hockey player.

This is your fifth straight season with the Huskies. After all these years in the United States, what global analysis can you do about yourself?

After these several years at Northeastern I know that I use my strengths like speed and understanding of the game more and also changed my attitude mentally, I concentrate more on the game and on defense and offense. I think it’s a good analysis (laughs).

You have found your partners from the French team for the 4 Nations tournament in Amiens. Wearing the tricolor jersey is always a special taste?

It’s always an honor to wear the jersey of the French team, even after all these years. I competed in my first World Championship with Les Bleues (World D1A in Rouen) when I was 16 in 2015, so we’re almost approaching ten years.

In the French team, you were recently appointed deputy captain alongside Estelle Duvin to support new captain Lore Baudrit. What does that mean for you?

It’s immense pride, I didn’t expect it. With all the former players who retired after World D1A (Marion Allemoz, Morgane Rihet, Caroline Baldin, Gwendoline Gendarme, Athéna Locatelli, Lara Escudero, Anouck Bouché and Léa Parment), our generation was the next generation of the team from France with Lore Baudrit and Betty Jouanny who stayed. I am proud to take over from Morgane Rihet (former assistant captain). It’s a real pleasure and a big role to carry but I think I passed the course to have the skills. I have matured with the previous generation, the players have brought me a lot of experience.

At the beginning of the year we saw that many young players from the French team who had gone through the Pôle France were recruited by Canadian teams. Do you think there is a real evolution in French women’s hockey?

For me, some players showed others that it was possible for French women to go abroad. I also think it’s good to go through a structure like Pôle France and then go to Canada or the United States. It’s a great experience combining studies and hockey. I encourage younger kids to at least think about it.

The year 2022 will forever be engraved in the history of French ice hockey with this elite rise achieved in Angers in April. We hope this new year will be just as nice, right?

This World D1A in Angers was one of the best World Championships of my career. The grandstands were full, that was extraordinary. I hope now that we will get the same results in the elite (note: the French team will face Finland, Sweden, Hungary and Germany in Group B), even if it will be different as they are playing at the highest level in the world will . But we can get good results, there are teams we can beat.

The world elite in Brampton, Canada, is getting closer and closer. What will be the ingredients to successfully maintain it?

Believing in us and our team spirit will be key during the competition. We must take the chances we will have and bring as much danger as possible. In the defensive structure it will be important to be strong and disciplined.

What are your personal and common goals for the coming years?

For me personally, the first step is to finish my studies. Completing my university career will also be a big step for me. I want to finish the championship in style. Then comes the world elite with the French team. Keeping that would be a good achievement, but I’d like to aim for the quarter-finals. We must dream higher.

Chloé Aurard with Les Bleues at the 4 Nations tournament in Amiens from December 15th to 17th:

Image rights: Benoît Bruche / Ludovic Cardon

Chloe Aurard in a nutshell:

  • Born on March 15, 1999 in Grenoble
  • club career : Gap (2013-2014), Vermont Academy (2015-2016), Villard-de-Lans (2016-2017), Northeastern University (USA, 2017-present)
  • Participation in all World Cups for the French women’s team since 2015

Juliet Ingram

Total web buff. Student. Tv enthusiast. Evil thinker. Travelaholic. Proud bacon guru.

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