QUARANTINE FILES: KAYLEE DUFRESNE

SPORT: Women's Hockey

POSITION: Forward

HOMETOWN: Ottawa, ON

YEAR: 5th

MAJOR: BBA

Q: What's your daily routine like? 

A: Wake up, have coffee and breakfast. Go for a workout in my basement and try to find something entertaining to do. Grocery store trips are pretty exciting around my house. 

Q: What are you doing to prepare for the 2020-21 season? 

A: Being in quarantine has given me the opportunity to really focus on my fitness and my health, I have no distractions and no excuses not to be working out and becoming stronger physically and mentally. I have also been getting to know the new rookies coming in this season, by having some phones calls with them and being there to answer any of their questions. I know how much it made my first year better knowing I had the older girls to lean on, and I want them to know that I'm there to support them. 

Q: What (creative) ways are you working on your skill development while at home?

A: Pushing myself to the limits. I am fortunate enough to have a home gym with a lot of equipment at my house in Ottawa. I am teaching myself different yoga positions, to be able to become more flexible.

Q: What is your nutrition program like?

A: I've been trying to incorporate a vegetarian meal once a week to change things up. I'm using all the advantages of being at home to try new and creative meals I could then transfer to my home back in P.E.I.

Q: How are you staying connected with teammates, friends and family? 

A: Thank god for the power of FaceTime…and I guess the new popular way of connecting Zoom. I made the decision to come back and stay with my parents in Ottawa until things clear up a bit, and I am very grateful I made that decision. I have been connecting with my friends through FaceTime, it has been very hard not seeing anyone my age for 8 weeks now, but I'm thankful for the power of technology. I don't know what I'd do without it.

Q: When the anxiety of living during a pandemic gets to be overwhelming what do you do to get through it? 

A: My honest answer would be to let myself feel whatever I need to feel. There have been a lot of tears throughout the last 8 weeks, but I need to remember to pick myself back up and think of the positives throughout this pandemic. I find I catch myself trying to think of the future and how this will all turn around, so living in the moment has really helped me through the tough times. 

Q: What's something new you've been doing during this time?

A: I have been obsessed with doing puzzles throughout this pandemic and it has become my new hobby. The only issue is they don't last very long. I'm not very good at just enjoying the puzzle because once I start I can't stop. 

Q: What's the one thing you miss the most? 

A: I miss the busyness of my life. As a student-athlete you're always busy doing something. It was very hard to go from one of the busiest weeks of the year to not being able to leave your house in such a quick turnaround. I miss all the memories I would be making. This was my graduating year so it's hard to think of everything I would've done with my friends and teammates.

Q: What's your go-to binge-worthy TV show? Why?

A: I'm not a huge TV person, but each Monday I look forward to the new Bachelor show, Listen to Your Heart. it gives me the chance to connect with some of my teammates who are watching it as well.

Q: Best movie franchise to watch while quarantined? Why?

A: I would have to say the Ocean's movies or the Bourne Identity movies as they always seem to be on TV. Even though we watched them a million times, my family and I still enjoy them.