Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - October 24, 2013

Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.

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BADGERING ANN-RENÉE DESBIENS Freshman goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens made her collegiate debut Saturday in Wisconsin's 6-0 triumph over St. Cloud State. A native of Quebec, Desbeins has not only been adjusting to college life at Wisconsin, but also life in the United States as she has spoken French for most of her life. "Adjusting to college life wasn't hard, we had something similar in Quebec, and I was in it for two years before I came here. It was an easy transition, but the hardest part is the language. It is all new to me, going to school in English, and doing the homework in English. It's not the first time I have been away from home, but it is farther, and it is a little bit harder. I have to write eight-page papers in English like every other student, but we have a lot of support people, and it is getting easier every single time. The school is making my transition easier." How has it been adjusting to college? "We had classes in high school and elementary school for English. We only learned on how to make a sentence, or how to write it, but we didn't learn how to speak it. I learned how to speak when I went to the Team Canada camp when I was 16. It was so bad, I was hanging out there and didn't understand anything. I spent two months with them, I improved my English. Since I've been here at Wisconsin my English has been improving every single day with school and since I'm in it I have to learn it faster." What was your experience with English prior to coming to Wisconsin? "This is my first year with women's hockey. The game is a little bit different, so I have to be more calm-minded and waiting a little bit longer, as the girls are more patient than guys, and the girls go more for rebounds, while the guys just want to score nice goals. Also, I've been improving my shape to improve at this level and making the switch." What is the biggest difference in playing hockey in Quebec and Wisconsin? What were your thoughts on getting a shutout in your first career start last Saturday against St. Cloud State? "That was so nice to get the start. You always want to play, so to be on the ice in a real NCAA game was amazing. To be playing in front of the crowd and wearing this jersey was cool. The start could have been worse, the team helped me a lot to block shots and keep the opponents away from the scoring area. I'm proud of what I did, but I still need to improve some aspects of my game." How is it getting to play with a second-team All-America goaltender in Alex Rigsby? "It is nice having Alex as a mentor. I feel like I can learn a lot from her on and off the ice. She has a lot of international experience. I can learn from her, ask her questions, and having her on the ice challenges me more. If I want to play, I have to be better, I have to compete every practice, every single shot, and that will just help both of us become better." 26 // VARSITY October 24, 2013

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