Jayna Hefford’s Summer: Turn up the heat.
18 July 2009
Kingston’s Jayna Hefford has a stick like a rifle – she’s a pure sniper.
The Team Canada scorer just had a career season with the Brampton Thunder, setting a net-full of CWHL records (69 points in 28 games; 44 goals) and being named the league’s top forward.
But she’s not resting on her on-ice laurels.
We spoke with Jayna at a Nike photo shoot recently to find out how she’s preparing for her upcoming season and Team Canada tryouts. After having completed a three-week spring conditioning camp in Dawson Creek, BC, Hefford and her teammates are now the midst of an intense summer training schedule: “We do a lot of aerobics. Running, biking, anything that keeps the heart elevated.”
It’s a routine salted with extra hours of weights and jump/squat-based workouts to increase agility, power and – most importantly to Hefford – speed.
“As a smaller player in hockey, speed is essential,” says the 5’5” winger. “That's definitely the key to my game.”
Hefford spent last summer working on another key skill set, breaking down her shooting technique and rebuilding it, with a focus on wrist strength.
“Working on those fine little skills can make a huge difference,” as proven when she captured the Angela James Bowl this year, the award for the CWHL’s top scorer.
That scoring prowess is the result of dedication, an individual fire that Hefford hopes will earn her a roster spot on Team Canada in their pursuit of a third Olympic Gold.
“I wanna take every advantage I can to make sure the results go my way…finding challenges and working hard to become better every day.”
Hers is the voice of experience. Hefford was on the ice in the final game of Salt Lake 2002, when Canada overcame a potentially-crushing eight penalties in a row to defeat the US team for the gold.
“We played most of the game shorthanded and still were able to beat a team that we hadn't beat all year.”
So the lesson there is?
“You can get fate on your side…by being prepared, by being stronger, being faster. We set ourselves up to put fate in our corner.”
The Team Canada scorer just had a career season with the Brampton Thunder, setting a net-full of CWHL records (69 points in 28 games; 44 goals) and being named the league’s top forward.
But she’s not resting on her on-ice laurels.
We spoke with Jayna at a Nike photo shoot recently to find out how she’s preparing for her upcoming season and Team Canada tryouts. After having completed a three-week spring conditioning camp in Dawson Creek, BC, Hefford and her teammates are now the midst of an intense summer training schedule: “We do a lot of aerobics. Running, biking, anything that keeps the heart elevated.”
It’s a routine salted with extra hours of weights and jump/squat-based workouts to increase agility, power and – most importantly to Hefford – speed.
“As a smaller player in hockey, speed is essential,” says the 5’5” winger. “That's definitely the key to my game.”
Hefford spent last summer working on another key skill set, breaking down her shooting technique and rebuilding it, with a focus on wrist strength.
“Working on those fine little skills can make a huge difference,” as proven when she captured the Angela James Bowl this year, the award for the CWHL’s top scorer.
That scoring prowess is the result of dedication, an individual fire that Hefford hopes will earn her a roster spot on Team Canada in their pursuit of a third Olympic Gold.
“I wanna take every advantage I can to make sure the results go my way…finding challenges and working hard to become better every day.”
Hers is the voice of experience. Hefford was on the ice in the final game of Salt Lake 2002, when Canada overcame a potentially-crushing eight penalties in a row to defeat the US team for the gold.
“We played most of the game shorthanded and still were able to beat a team that we hadn't beat all year.”
So the lesson there is?
“You can get fate on your side…by being prepared, by being stronger, being faster. We set ourselves up to put fate in our corner.”
