WATERLOO, Ont. - Isabelle Ladouceur and Jamie Smith are used to finding success on the curling rink. 

As skip and vice, respectfully, the pair were an integral part of the Golden Hawks OUA Championship-winning team this past season. 

Before that, they had already begun to put together impressive resumes. In 2018, Ladouceur skipped Nova Scotia to a gold medal at the Canadian U18 Curling Championships, an event Smith would win a year later as the third on Team Northern Ontario.

In November, Ladouceur and Smith together led Team Northern Ontario to victory at the New Holland World Junior Qualifying event, earning the right to represent Canada at the 2022 World Junior Curling Championships.

And while they finished 3-6 and out of the medal round at the tournament - which concluded last Sunday, May 22 in Jönköping, Sweden - the opportunity to represent Canada is one both student-athletes deservedly took pride in.

"Wearing the maple leaf was such an honour," said Ladouceur. "I was representing something bigger than me and something that I love, so it was really important to me."

"It's hard to put into words sometimes because it's still so unbelievable," added Smith. "It's something that I've dreamed of for so long so it's great to [have it] come true."

Neither player had ever played on the international stage before Jönköping. Ladouceur says she appreciated being exposed to a variety of strategies and playing styles she hadn't encountered before.



"Everyone was competing at a high level, and I honestly did think that everyone was amazing out there, which, as a competitive athlete, that's what you want."

Competing against other countries wasn't the only thing that was foreign to the student-athletes. Ladouceur was mic'd up for two of the games, something she'd never experienced before.

"I noticed it. And when you're curling, you don't want to notice the little things, you want to be focused."

Playing at an event as prestigious as the World Junior Championships also meant dealing with a lot of "little things".

"We were feeling the pressure of being expected to do well," said Smith. "And then when you're not doing as well as maybe people think, you're a little afraid of what Twitter might say."

Being mic'd up for a television broadcast and worrying about social media reactions is, of course, not a situation that too many student-athletes across U Sports often find themselves in. It's a testament to Ladouceur and Smith's talent and hard work that they were in that position.

"It's a good problem to have," noted Smith.

And yet, being in such a situation does have its drawbacks. That's especially true in curling where, as Ladouceur mentioned, mental focus is critical.

"There were so many unknowns and new experiences, and that can sometimes be uncomfortable to play in when things are just new and fresh," said Ladouceur. "I did go in a little bit nervous and then as it continued, I got more comfortable."

"It plays into the nerves a bit," agreed Smith. "You kind of just have to fake it 'till you make it, just pretend that you're comfortable with the environment. Sometimes I think maybe [the rest of the teams are] doing that too."

Smith said the familiarity she has not only with Ladouceur but with the rest of the team, most of whom had played together previously, helped in navigating this unfamiliar environment.

"We have a really good team dynamic. I think a lot of our personalities sort of balance each other out," she said, adding, "They're some of my closest friends, so I love playing with them."

Ladouceur and Smith will be back together on the rink in September, representing the purple and gold in Ottawa at the qualifying event for the 2023 FISU World University Games. 

And while that is certainly something to look forward to, last week's experience is one both student-athletes will be looking back on for a long time.

When asked if there was a specific moment she'll hold on to from the tournament, Ladouceur named hearing the national anthem play after every game. "O Canada" was played three times following victories over Switzerland, Denmark, and South Korea.

"When we got honoured, it did feel really special," Ladouceur said but explained her enjoyment of that sporting tradition wasn't limited to her own team's achievement.

"I thought it was just really beautiful every team got to showcase their national anthem and then they got to stand there in front of everyone [feeling] very proud."

"Very proud" is exactly what the Laurier community feels of Ladouceur and Smith, and all the evidence suggests that's a feeling that will persist throughout their Golden Hawks careers and beyond.