They say the family that plays together, stays together. That’s the case with the Nadon family of Whitehorse: father, Roch (pronounced Rock); mother, Danièle Rémillard; and sons, Nicolas and Gabriel. They play in the Yukon Broomball Association on the Sports Experts team.
Gabriel said that fancy moves like in hockey aren’t required on the broomball ice. “I don’t need to because if you fake one direction enough and go back the other, a person’s not on skates and can’t stop [and] is just going to slide right by you.”
Roch said it also depends on ice conditions: “Sometimes it’s very sticky, so you can run like crazy.” When it’s very icy, it’s a different story. Players can slide right past you easily. Roch said that’s where experience comes in.
Nicolas added, “Every year, you learn different tactics. But even after five or six [years], even old-timers, I’m sure, still improve every year and learn something new—or perfect the technique.”
The Nadons were asked what the appeal of the game is for them.
Nicolas said, “I’ve just always played. It’s fun. It’s not that expensive, as compared to other winter sports.”
Roch (speaking to the brothers): “You started young, and you love the game.”
Broomball shoes aren’t overly expensive. Sticks, however, like hockey sticks, can be quite costly. Registration is $120 per season.
Danièle said, “It’s a true Canadian sport. We grew up with that sport and it’s a team sport—so, everything that’s fun about playing on a team: it’s the social thing, but it’s also collaboration and cooperation.”
They normally play three times a week at the broomball arena in Takhini.
“It’s really easy because we have our own rink, so we can play on the weekdays,” Danièle said. (They also play on weekends.) “I think what I like the most is [that] it’s outdoors,” Danièle said. Then she added, “It’s a good way to like the winter because you go outside, you play … It’s cold sometimes, but then you talk about that: ‘It’s frigging cold today!’
“It’s a friendly league. You get to know a lot of people from other teams, and there’s this community of broomball. Sometimes after the game, you’ll go for a beer and then we always go to the KK [Kopper King pub], and the other teams do the same. So it’s the social part of it.”
When asked how long they planned on playing, Danièle said, “Roch was thinking that would have been his last year, last year. But then Gab said, ‘Oh, that’d be nice to play as a family, one more time.’ So I said, ‘OK, I’m gonna play,’ and then Gab came back to the team. But then I got injured so I didn’t play this year. So maybe next year, it’d be fun to play.” (Danièle broke her shoulder in a bike accident.)
“For me, now, it’s year after year. One year at a time,” added Roch.
“It’s been part of my routine for ten years, so I’m not necessarily looking forward to change,” said Nicolas.
“I see it as my broomball career just started,” said Gabriel. “I think this was my ninth season. So it’s been a while. People are shocked because Nick and I are quite good in the league. They’re always shocked, just because we look young. I’d like to keep playing until my body doesn’t let me play.”
Playing defence has helped prolong Roch’s and Danièle’s careers. “It’s more, like, to know where to be—and when, and you don’t circle the ice as much,” Danièle explained. “You don’t move so much, so I think that’s why you’re able to play a little longer.”
Roch also used to play goalie as a backup, when needed. “I’m not the best one; I’m not the worst one … I’m not afraid of the ball, which helps.”
Nicolas and Gabriel play at center or wing. “Gab and I usually play center because of our experience and our speed,” said Nicolas. He added that they have to run more, cover more ground, and cover the opposing players as well.
Gabriel said that a center has to be fast enough to cover players, as well as to anticipate the play.
Taking face-offs is also part of a center’s duties. “If you win the face-off, you win the ball,” Roch explained.
The brothers are also involved in running the league. Nicolas is the team rep and is on the board of directors. He also acts as the league’s communications director and runs the league’s website. Gabriel is the referee-in-chief and refs many of the games.
There are contrasting personalities within the family. Roch and Gabriel are more intense. Danièle and Nicolas are more laid back.
“I need to check myself sometimes, and I’m not saying [that] in a bad way,’ said Gabriel, who also grew up playing soccer. “I’ve always been very competitive. Growing up, you realize that sometimes that’s not always needed. And so you just dial it back a little bit. When you’re on ice, people can get hurt. Everyone’s got to go to work the next day.”
When asked if there’s any competitiveness between the two brothers, Nicolas answered, “No, not really—because I’m realistic. There’s statistics, but that’s not all there is to the game. Everyone has their role, and we know what our roles are.”
Gabriel led the league in scoring for the fourth straight year with 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points. Nicolas finished with 14 points (six goals, eight assists).
Roch said there is no competition between the two brothers. “They’re passing; they’re laughing. Sometimes they play hard because you have to play hard, but you can feel a lot of respect from other teams for what these two guys bring together.”
Gabriel added, “No one cares who scores the goal. The team just wants to win. If I have to go through three people to shoot at the net, or I can pass, and my teammate has a wide-open shot, I’m gonna pass to my teammate no matter how competitive I am. It’s a team sport.”
Nicolas added, “Being brothers, growing up, we were super competitive between each other—but it’s changed. Now we just know what our role is.”
When asked if they are best friends, Nicolas laughed and said, “I guess.”
Roch added, “They are brothers.”
“Best bros,” Nicolas added jokingly.
Roch said he used to be more competitive when he was younger. “To be honest, sometimes I lost my temper on the ice.”
“You? No way!” Gabriel added jokingly.
Roch added that he lost his temper “especially when it was rough” or when he felt the refereeing wasn’t fair. He said that, as a defender, he has a role to play and if there is somebody in the crease, he will move them out. “My goalie is the king. Get out!”
Pointing to Daniele and himself, Nicolas said, “We’re the two pacifists and they’re the two ‘hot rods.’”
Danièle said, “I would probably be competitive; but first, I don’t have the body; and second, I don’t have the talent. So I’m just playing for the fun of it.”
“You’re good, Danièle. You’re too humble,” replied Roch.
Danièle continued, saying, “I’m not playing at the level that I would like to play.” Then she added, “I would love to win them all. And I always give my best and I don’t like it when I see players that are not working for it.
“But in the end, it’s just a game. If you’re there for your ego or something, it’s not the place.”
