By Mark Staffieri
Carleton Ravens women’s hockey team members carry more than a couple hometowns that can’t be found on most rival university squads. Add Honefoss, Norway to the list that already includes cities in the Czech Republic and Germany thanks to the arrival of rookie Hedda Gjerde.
“This is the next step in my career,” explains Gjerde, a member of the Norwegian women’s national team. “To step out of my comfort zone, I left the country.”
The opportunity to compete in Canada was a key factor in Gjerde’s decision to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey. An exhibition game against the Carleton Ravens was another key factor in selecting the nation’s capital as her destination.
“Basically, it was a childhood dream for me” to play in Canada with her national team several years ago at Carleton, Gjerde explains. “Meeting (coach) Shelley (Coolidge) opened my eyes. There has always been a huge gap between Canada, U.S. and European women’s hockey. We are looking to close that gap even more.”
With Team Norway, Gjerde competed in the 2012 Div. 1 world championships, in Pool A. Their only loss came to the Czech Republic, the team that claimed first in the pool. Originally from Japan, Ravens goaltender Eri Kiribuchi now dresses for the Czech national team since her family moved to Prague, while former Raven and now assistant coach Sara Seiler will compete for Germany in top tier worlds during the upcoming 2013 world championships.
“It is definitely good to have other Europeans on the team. We joke around and remark about things that are typical Canadian,” smiles Gjerde. “As Germany and the Czech Republic are also working towards closing the gap by becoming better, the three of us motivate each other. We do a lot of off-ice training and we are a good support system for each other. They are both big role models for me.”
The rest of the Ravens also help her from feeling homesick.
“This is a really good group and it is like a second family,” says Gjerde, whose parents flew in for her first regular season game.
The defender is already making her mark at Carleton, earning powerplay time and registering two goals in her first three contests with the Ravens.
“Compared to women’s hockey in Europe, it is very different,” Gjerde notes. “The hockey here is quicker, and more technical. I learned to work more on smaller surfaces. Basically, the mentality of Canadian hockey has prepared me very well.”
Ravens coach Shelley Coolidge believes the Ravens and Canadian university hockey do have a role to play in helping overseas players, and their countries, improve.
“We have a responsibility to give back,” she says. “The more that we are able to share and allow athletes to learn best practices from each other, the more the female game is going to develop.”
Learning to hate the Gee-Gees
One thing Gjerde has picked up very quickly is that matches against the crosstown Ottawa Gee-Gees – who are one point ahead of the 3-7-1 Ravens – seem to mean a little something extra to those involved.
“It was a high-speed game (against Ottawa), intense,” recalls Gjerde, whose side was sunk by a goal in the final two minutes of a 4-3 contest on Nov. 18. “I like those games because you can feel the energy on the bench.”