Headrick captures national award for community service work

By Sam Laskaris

FREDERICTON – Jana Headrick captured some hardware at this year’s Canadian university women’s hockey championships.

Though thrilled with the individual recognition she received, Headrick, a Garden River First Nation member, would have preferred some more team success at the national tournament.

Headrick, who had previously spent four years playing at the University of Toronto, ended up using her fifth and final season of university eligibility with the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds, a squad that included Nipissing First Nation member Lily George.

The Reds captured their Atlantic University Sport (AUS) title and advanced to their national USports tournament, which concluded Mar. 27 in Charlottetown.

UNB won its quarter-final match at the Canadian tourney but ended up losing both of its semi-final and bronze-medal games.

During an awards banquet held in conjunction with the national tournament, Headrick was presented with the Marion Hillard Award, recognizing community service work by a student/athlete.

“I was super grateful; one to be nominated for this award and then to actually receive it,” Headrick said.

The award recognizes an individual not only for community involvement but also based on their academic and athletic efforts.

Headrick had organized a six-week learn to play hockey camp for Indigenous girls this past fall in New Brunswick. She also worked with various partners to provide free equipment to camp participants and was able to land funding to provide registered players a free experience.

Headrick was aware she was in the running for the national award. She previously won an AUS award for her community work.

“Because of that, I was automatically nominated for the national award,” she said.

Three other conference winners from across the country were also eligible to win the USports award.

Headrick, a 23-year-old who plays defence, has used up her university playing experience now. She is expected to complete the requirements for her Master’s degree this August.

Headrick said she’ll also provide recommendations on how to continue the Indigenous girls’ hockey camp next season.

“Lily will be taking it over,” Headrick said of her teammate.

George, who helped out with last fall’s camp, is looking forward to continuing the camp.

“I think that’s the plan for next year,” she said of taking over the reins from Headrick. “I’m excited to help grow the program that [Jana] started.”

At the eight-team national tournament, the Reds edged Montreal’s McGill Univeristy 5-4 in their quarter-final contest, which was decided with a shootout.

George, a right winger, with the club, scored once and added an assist in the game while Headrick also provided a goal.

UNB’s gold-medal aspirations were then dashed when it was blanked 4-0 by North Bay’s Nipissing University in a semi-final match.

The Reds were also blanked in their next outing, 2-0 by the University of Saskatchewan, in their bronze-medal battle.

“Definitely I would have preferred the team success,” Headrick said. “But I think we did a great job at nationals. Fourth place is nothing to be disappointed with.”