La Roche's latest hit on the Olies is the Winnipeg Free Press

Shay La Roche is finally feeling herself again.

Three months ago, the veteran leader of the Canadian women's water polo team was on crutches and unsure of her professional return to the pool after surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in her left knee.

The 31-year-old former Winnipegger (who now lives in Laval, Que.) recovered faster than expected and, while still not 100 percent, is back to scoring for the first time in seven months.

La Roche has four goals in the first two World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, including three in Tuesday's 20-5 win over Great Britain.

“It was good. It was great to get back into it,” La Roche said. “Getting back in the pool is completely different – ​​my knee is fine, it's working and I can do what I love again. Considering it was an unexpected injury, it was very special to come back from it.

“We were lucky to have some easier games and I really appreciate it to get back on track.”

The world No. 7 team opened the 16-nation tournament with a 24-2 win over South Africa before beating the British. To qualify for the 10-team Summer Games, Canada must finish among the top two nations that did not qualify for the Paris Olympics.

No. 3 Italy and No. 6 Hungary also look to qualify this week.

Canada closes group play (2-0) against the Italians on Thursday. A win secures a place in the quarter-finals.

“Shae is the veteran of the team,” head coach David Pardello said after the win over Great Britain. “He's been there for a long time and it's very important for us to have him back. He has worked so hard to get back to his former form, he has been through a lot in the last three years.

“It's very impressive, the endurance he has every time he has to come back from very difficult operations. But he's back to work, he's working hard and he's been a pillar of the team.”

Five months before his knee injury, La Roche went under the knife to repair a torn labrum and biceps tendon in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He recovered quickly to play in the World Aquatics Championships last July.

“Mentally, (a knee injury) is a completely different type of injury to take your sport away so quickly. Therefore, I am very grateful to have such a good medical team… I realize how lucky I am to have such support,” he said.

“Just to be able to play now, I have to tape it, but it's great, I'm so grateful to be able to play again.”

With plans to retire after an illustrious career after the Olympics, it could be La Roche's last dance if Canada fails in its latest bid.

The Canadian women could have qualified for Paris if they had won gold at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile in October, but fell short after losing 20-11 to the Americans in the championship game. It was the national team's third consecutive silver medal at the Games and the first time La Roche has missed a tournament with the national program in his career.

Although he accompanies the team as a video analyst, it goes without saying that he has had a profound effect on their competitive psyche. However, he was encouraged by what he saw from his colleagues.

“It was harder to watch than to play and there are a lot of conflicting emotions with it. But at the same time, I was proud of how the team put together that tournament,” said La Roche.

“I think we were really excited and really prepared and felt like we deserved to go to the Olympics.”

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Joshua Frey-Sam
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Joshua Frey-Sam will happily welcome a heated sports debate any day of the week.

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