Laurentian’s 6 ‘3 forward Emilie Lafond has had quite the basketball career. The born-and-raised Sudbury local spent her full five years of eligibility at Laurentian University.
She started her career in grade seven playing for the Sudbury Jam, her local club team. In grade 12, her height and talent allowed for a transfer to Lo-Ellen Park Prep, a high school which is part of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association.
Lafond grew up watching Laurentian’s basketball team and when it came to deciding her post-secondary plans, being a homebody, it just made sense for her to join the team she already loved.
“When I met Coach Hurley during the recruiting process, he was great and I really enjoyed my visit, so it just felt like home,” said Lafond. “He’s a great coach and I loved the team when I was visiting, so I just found it was a really good fit.”
Lafond is currently averaging 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game. She is ninth in the OUA for total blocks and is known to be extremely dominant in the paint. She had 36 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s game against the Lakehead Thunderwolves on January 24, and is having one of the best seasons of her basketball career.
“I feel like it’s just kind of a full circle moment. You work so hard throughout your years being here […], so I’m really glad we’re having a really good season,” said Lafond.
The Voyageurs finished the season 13-9, and sitting at third place in the OUA, just behind the Carleton Ravens, They look forward to facing the York Lions in the first round of the playoffs this week.
“This team has been amazing throughout this entire season. This is actually one of the best records we’ve had I think, since I’ve been here,” exclaimed Lafond, as she discusses the Voyageurs making a playoff run.
“The most important thing is just playing our brand of basketball. When we play together, we’re a dangerous team, and I think a lot of teams in the OUA notice that,” she continued.
After five years of eligibility, and six years of playing basketball in the Ben Avery Gymnasium, because of the COVID-19 year, Lafond’s university basketball career will be coming to a close after the OUA and USPORTS playoffs this year. But her basketball career is far from over.
“The top main goal is to play overseas for a few years,” said Lafond. “But still got to get through this season first.”
Lafond has been talking with agents since last year, but decided to take her fifth and final year of eligibility before choosing to play professionally. She is looking forward to talking with teams overseas again, once the USPORTS season is over. She’s also graduating from teaching so she could see coaching in her future as well.
“I want to keep inside the basketball world,” she said.
