Marie-France Larouche
Encyclopedia
Marie-France Larouche (born June 5, 1980 in Lévis, Quebec
) is a Canadian
curler.
Larouche is a former national junior curling champion
, having won the title in 1999 with her team of Nancy Bélanger
, Marie-Ève Létourneau, Valerie Grenier and Véronique Grégoire. Larouche won the championship after four previous unsuccessful attempts. At the 1999 World Junior Curling Championships
, Larouche and her team would win the bronze medal for Canada. The following year, Larouche was asked to be the alternate for Janique Berthelot's team at the 2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts
. At the 2001 Scott Tournament of Hearts
, Larouche had skipped her own team all the way to the 3 vs. 4 game where she lost to Sherry Middaugh
. Larouche was back again at the 2004 Scott Tournament of Hearts
where she lost to Colleen Jones
in the final. Larouche won the 2008 Quebec Scotties qualifying her for the 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
where she lost the 3-4 game to Jennifer Jones
who eventually won the tournament.
The 2008-09 season would be the best for Larouche's team. Larouche won her first Grand Slam event, by winning the Sobey's Slam. The team then won the John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier
in Ottawa, qualifying the team for the 2009 Canada Cup of Curling
. At the Canada Cup, the team lost in the final to Shannon Kleibrink
's rink. The team also won the 2009 Quebec Scotties Tournament of Hearts
, earning them the right to represent Team Quebec at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
. After placing 2nd after the round-robin, the team suffered two straight playoff losses, and were booted once again in the 3-4 game against Jones.
Lévis, Quebec
Lévis is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Quebec City. A ferry links Old Quebec with Old Lévis, and two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect western Lévis with Quebec City. The Société de transport de...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
curler.
Larouche is a former national junior curling champion
Canadian Junior Curling Championships
The Canadian Junior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament held to determine the best junior-level curling team in Canada. Junior level curlers must be under the age of 20 as of December 31 in the year prior to the tournament....
, having won the title in 1999 with her team of Nancy Bélanger
Nancy Bélanger
Nancy Bélanger is a Canadian curler from Charny, Quebec. She plays third for Marie-France Larouche. As a member of Larouche's team, Bélanger won five straight junior provincial championships...
, Marie-Ève Létourneau, Valerie Grenier and Véronique Grégoire. Larouche won the championship after four previous unsuccessful attempts. At the 1999 World Junior Curling Championships
World Junior Curling Championships
The World Junior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament featuring the world's best curlers who are 21 years old or younger. The competition for both men and women occur at the same venue. The men's tournament has occurred since 1975 and the women's 1988...
, Larouche and her team would win the bronze medal for Canada. The following year, Larouche was asked to be the alternate for Janique Berthelot's team at the 2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts
2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's national curling championship, was played at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia February 19–27. Kelley Law and her British Columbia team won the final defeating Anne Merklinger of Ontario...
. At the 2001 Scott Tournament of Hearts
2001 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 2001 Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's national curling championship, was played at the Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario. The final pitted 1999 champions Colleen Jones and her Nova Scotia team against the defending champions Kelley Law who represented team Canada...
, Larouche had skipped her own team all the way to the 3 vs. 4 game where she lost to Sherry Middaugh
Sherry Middaugh
Sherry L. Middaugh is a Canadian curler from Victoria Harbour, Ontario. Before marrying world champion curler Wayne Middaugh, she was known as Sherry Scheirich....
. Larouche was back again at the 2004 Scott Tournament of Hearts
2004 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 2004 Scott Tournament of Hearts was held at the ENMAX Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta from February 21 to 29 2004. The defending champion, Colleen Jones won the right to represent "Canada" and she would go on to win her fourth straight championship...
where she lost to Colleen Jones
Colleen Jones
Colleen P. Jones is a Canadian curler and television personality. She is best known as the skip of two women's world championship teams and six Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's championships, including an unprecedented four titles in a row...
in the final. Larouche won the 2008 Quebec Scotties qualifying her for the 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's national women's curling tournament was held February 16-24, 2008 at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. The winner was the 2005 champion team from Manitoba, under skip Jennifer Jones. In winning, they became the first team since Kelley Law's...
where she lost the 3-4 game to Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones (curler)
Jennifer Jones is a Canadian curler from East St. Paul, Manitoba. Jones, a lawyer, is corporate counsel for Wellington West Capital and a Windsor Park Collegiate graduate.-Early success:...
who eventually won the tournament.
The 2008-09 season would be the best for Larouche's team. Larouche won her first Grand Slam event, by winning the Sobey's Slam. The team then won the John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier
John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier
The John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier was an annual curling bonspiel held at the Ottawa and Rideau Curling Clubs in Ottawa, Canada. In odd years, the event was a qualifier for the men's Canada Cup of Curling while in even years the event is the women's qualifier...
in Ottawa, qualifying the team for the 2009 Canada Cup of Curling
2009 Canada Cup of Curling
The 2009 Canada Cup of Curling was held March 18-22 at the Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.-Teams: Kevin Koe Kevin Martin Glenn Howard Bob Ursel Russ Howard Mike McEwen Randy Ferbey The 2009 Canada Cup of Curling was held March 18-22 at the Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton,...
. At the Canada Cup, the team lost in the final to Shannon Kleibrink
Shannon Kleibrink
Shannon Kleibrink is a Canadian curler from Okotoks, Alberta. She and her team of third Amy Nixon, second Glenys Bakker, lead Christine Keshen and alternate Sandra Jenkins represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy...
's rink. The team also won the 2009 Quebec Scotties Tournament of Hearts
2009 Quebec Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2009 Quebec Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Quebec's women's provincial curling championship, will be held January 19-25 at the Club de curling Trois-Rivières in Trois-Rivières. The winner represents team Quebec at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Victoria, British...
, earning them the right to represent Team Quebec at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's national curling championship, was held from February 21 to March 1 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia.-Teams:* Throws third stones-Standings:...
. After placing 2nd after the round-robin, the team suffered two straight playoff losses, and were booted once again in the 3-4 game against Jones.