York Schulich School of Business student Therese Brisson scores high not only in her classroom studies but also on the hockey rink. A six-time world champion and two-time Olympian in ice hockey, Brisson was on Canada’s National Women’s Team that won gold at the recent 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship (WWHC) in Halifax, with an 2-0 win over the US.
Brisson, a second-year MBA student at York, holds a BSc in exercise science (with honourable distinction) from Concordia University and an MSc and PhD in motor control and learning from Université de Montréal.
Left: Therese Brisson entering the rink at the 2000 Women’s World Hockey Championships
Prior to joining Schulich’s MBA program, Brisson was a professor in University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Kinesiology and an adjunct professor at the university’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering. She also worked as the interim executive director for Athletes CAN, with responsibilities for athlete advocacy, sport policy development, program administration, marketing and communications, event planning and management.
More about Therese Brisson
Brisson’s deep interest in sports began when she was growing up in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, PQ, where she played ringette and later participated in the first World Ringette Championships in 1990. A long time ringette player, she began playing hockey at high school.
While playing varsity hockey at Concordia University, Brisson was named Female Rookie of the Year (1987) and Female Athlete of the Year (1988 and 1989). She was inducted into the Concordia University Sports Hall of Fame on April 17, 1997.
Brisson has been a member of the National Women’s Hockey Team for 10 years, serving three seasons as the team’s captain. Other highlights of her career include winning six world championships (1994; 1997; 1999; 2000, 2001, 2004), a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano and a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. She has participated at nine Senior Women’s National Championships, winning gold (1994 and 1995), and silver (2000) with Team Quebec; and bronze twice, with Quebec (1993) and with Team New Brunswick (1996).
Right: The jersery Brisson wore during the 2002 Olympics Team Canada Gold Medal Red Game
In addition, Brisson was three times named Most Valuable Defence at the National Championships (1995, 1998 and 2000). She currently plays with the Oakville Ice (formerly the Mississauga Ice Bears) in the National Women’s Hockey League.
Brisson’s thoughts about Schulich
“At Schulich, it was refreshing to find a business school that shared my values and the view that excellence can come in all shapes, sizes, and schedules. I am very grateful for the flexibility and support of the professors, support staff and classmates I have experienced here. It has allowed me to easily shift between part time and full times studies while training and competing with the national team.”