Two families from Ste. Anne will be making their way to South Korea in February to watch their daughters compete for gold at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

About a month ago Jocelyne Larocque and Bailey Bram from Ste. Anne were named to the roster of Canada's Olympic women's hockey team. Bailey's mother Bonnie Bram says for her and her husband Bill, it was a very emotional but exciting moment when they heard the news.

"I was at work so I started crying at lunchtime at work. For the last probably month, we didn't sleep much because you don't know and she was there last time when she did get the bad news so you never forget that. This time it was awesome."

Bill notes as a parent, it's very special for them to see their daughter realize her dreams and get to play at the highest level of sport. Bonnie explains her daughter's hockey journey started at a young age. 

"She started in Ste. Anne at four and played boys hockey right up till she was 15. Then she went to St. Adolphe, they had a girls team there so she played there for one year. then Balmoral Hall in Winnipeg started their program and they invited her there and she had a two-year scholarship there to play. Then she went off to University and played and then she's been in Calgary for the last few years in the CWHL." 

Bill says Bailey has been quite fortunate with the places she's been able to travel to and play hockey. Bailey received a scholarship to Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, which is an NCAA Division I school and played there for her four years of university. Bill notes he and Bonnie made the 23-hour trip a few times to watch Bailey play as well as her sister Shelby who played there as well. 

"They've gone all over the world, they've gone to Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czechoslovakia. For young kids, they've seen a lot already, they're lucky."

Bailey was one of the final players cut leading up to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. This time around, Bonnie says it was a very nervous time for Bailey as well as their entire family as they waited to see if she had made the team. 

"She was very anxious, she had a lot of tears just coming up to it and worried about it and everything. She also knew she gave her best so she thought 'this is the best I can do and I've tried my hardest so I hope the answer's the right one.' So when she walked into the office, they put out their hand and said 'congratulations, you're an Olympian.'"

Jocelyne and her father Andy LarocqueJocelyne Larocque won the gold medal with Team Canada in the 2014 Olympics and will now be competing again this year. Jocelyne's father Andy notes it's an incredibly proud moment for a parent to see their kids accomplish their goals. 

"I can't put it into words. Again, going back to the Olympics the pinnacle of Jocelyne's career to date."

Growing up, Jocelyne acted as a mentor to Bailey and through hockey, the two families have created a long-lasting friendship.

"I can remember some New Years Eves that we got a bunch of families together and played on the ice, played some ringette, hockey and some boot hockey. To see those two enjoying this experience together, again, you have to go to the surreal because the odds of that happening are absolutely incredible right?" 

Larocque adds growing up in a small rural community like Ste. Anne, the support and the help all along the way has been amazing.

"Speaking of family and the community in Ste. Anne, when these athletes were growing up, the support and the willingness to help if the girls ever asked for extra ice or do extra stuff everybody was accommodating."  

As we approach the Olympics, Bailey and Jocelyne will make their way over to South Korea with the rest of Team Canada towards the end of the month. The rest of the Bram and Larocque families are preparing for their trip as well. Bonnie Bram says her and Bill along with their daughter and Bailey's fiance will be going to cheer on Bailey in Pyeongchang. Meanwhile, Andy Larocque notes there's lots to do to get ready for this trip but says their family is really looking forward to it. 

"Jocelyne's step-mom, myself, Jocelyne's sister, I believe there are 14 of us going and we're all preparing. Setting up our train tickets and just counting the sleeps as they go by to get out there, it'll be very exciting." 

Both the Larocque and Bram family have expressed their appreciation for all the support people from the southeast have shown at any given point along Jocelyne or Bailey's journey over the years. 

Bailey and Jocelyne play their first round robin game on February 11th at 9 pm local time in Pyeongchang South Korea.