Jayna Hefford takes the mic

Canadian Olympic hockey hero speaks at 37th MacPherson

Year after year, the MacPherson Tournament attracts a notable guest speaker to impart their wisdom on young hockey players at the traditional luncheon. Past speakers have included hockey royalty such as Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, and Ken Dryden. This year, another prominent name was added to the list. 

Jayna Hefford, 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and five-time Olympic medalist, addressed the crowd as the first female guest speaker in the tournament’s 37-year history. Jayna is one of the longest-serving members of Canada’s women’s hockey team, and it’s not surprising she is also one of the country’s most decorated Olympians. At the time of her retirement in 2015, she ranked second all-time in Team Canada history with 267 games played, 157 goals, and 291 points.  

Following the Friday morning MacPherson games, all eight teams, their coaches, and any family that made the trip to St. Andrew’s gathered in Cole Hall for the luncheon. This year, five of the eight teams in attendance hailed from the U.S. For these stateside players, their memories of Jayna aren’t as fond as that of the Canadians, but it didn’t take long for luncheon emcee, Nicholas Weedon ’02, to remind everyone.

One of Jayna’s most well-known goals for Canada was the 2002 gold-medal-winning goal against the U.S. in Salt Lake City, Utah. Naturally, Nicholas welcomed Jayna to the mic with a reference to the on-ice rivalry between the Canada and U.S. hockey programs, and Jayna couldn’t resist beginning with a light-hearted jab. “I knew there were a number of Americans here today, so I wasn’t going to bring that up…but there you go,” she joked. 

Jayna’s message focused on the foundation she used to create such a successful career for herself and her teammates in the 18 years she spent on Canada’s national team. She learned that living in the moment, accountability, and meticulous preparation were the significant differentiators between success and failure. 

Often in defeat, the most valuable lessons are learned. Jayna spoke of how she used the loss to the U.S in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, to fuel Canada’s gold-medal win four years later in Salt Lake City. “In 2002, our group was able to block out all the noise and pressure, stay in the moment, and that was the key to success,” she said. 

Perhaps the most interesting anecdote came from the way that Jayna prepared for a potential shootout situation in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. She was given two DVDs to watch in her hotel room. The first had every single successful shootout attempt she had throughout the current season. The second contained all her successful shootout attempts on U.S. goalies. “No one else was preparing like this,” she said with confidence.

She wrapped up with a strong emphasis on the importance of being a good teammate, a message that related to every player in Cole Hall. “Make sure as you go through these experiences you stay present, hold yourself accountable, and prepare.”

Teams in attendance for the 37th MacPherson Hockey Tournament were Edge School (Alberta), Cégep André-Laurendeau (Quebec), Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minnesota), Northwood School (New York), Boston Advantage (Massachusetts), Culver Academy (Indiana), and Victory Honda (Michigan). Shattuck-St. Mary’s won the gold medal in a rematch of last year’s final against the First Hockey Saints, who finished with a silver. Northwood School took home the bronze. 

Sean Maillet

Sean Maillet

Sean Maillet has been the Digital Marketing Specialist at St. Andrew's since 2017. He is a graduate of the College of Sports Media with a diploma in broadcast journalism. Sean previously worked with FNTSY Sports Network.