'Absolutely massive': Stephanie Labbé’s father and local community reacts to Olympic gold win
Canada’s women won gold Friday in a shootout to capture a long-awaited and deserved Olympic medal.
A local connection to the team is helping inspire the next generation of players.
Gerry, the father of Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, was enjoying breakfast as he watched the game with his grandchildren.
The Stony Plain native told CTV News Edmonton he was anxious throughout the match but his nerves settled when the game went into penalty kicks.
“In Stephanie we trust,” he laughed.
“All she had to do was keep us close, and she did. Then when she got the opportunity to close the door, she did.”
Stephanie's father Gerry Labbé wore his Canada jersey Friday morning as he watched the game live with his grandchildren (Supplied)
Stephanie played minor soccer in Spruce Grove and Mill Woods before getting a soccer scholarship kickstarting her career. She attended the 2002 U19 Women's World Cup in Edmonton and knew playing for Team Canada was something she wanted to do.
She played with the University of Connecticut and then played with the Swedish club KIF Orebro for six years. She made her Olympic debut in Rio 2016 where she helped Canada win the bronze medal.
Sweden's Sofia Jakobsson, left, and Canada's goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe battle for the ball during the women's final soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Sweden's Sofia Jakobsson, left, and Canada's goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe battle for the ball during the women's final soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
“This is massive for Canada,” Gerry said. “Absolutely massive.”
“I can only imagine what this is going to do not only for the girl’s program, but you know the boy’s program in the youth coming up.There’s some really good players that helped build and push this team to where it is now so I’m happy for those people too, cause they get to share in this.”
David McCarthy, a coach with Edmonton Scottish United Soccer Club for children aged four to 17, said for many young soccer players in Edmonton, the win meant the world.
“It’s pretty incredible right, and then that’s all anyone wanted to talk about when they came, and some of the people were showing up as things were happening,” he said.
“It just really creates this incredible buzz.”
Some avid youngsters attending soccer camps in the city woke up extra early to watch the game live.
“I do sometimes play goalie too, so it felt kinda like I could be like that when I’m older, just like her,” 10-year-old Juliana Martin said.
Aspiring soccer star Juliana Martin (CTV News Edmonton)
The aspiring soccer star said the win made her want to play even more.
"I just want to get to the best of my abilities," she added. "I wanna show people just because I'm a girl they won't stop me."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.