Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Jenna Thompson was set to return for her senior season with the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team when she received life-altering news that her father was battling cancer.
Back in Winnipeg.
That meant playing hockey this season was out as she returned home to be by her father's side.
Teammate Carley Jewell, who is also from Winnipeg, wanted to do something to help support her longtime friend. She spearheaded a plan to make Friday's Griffins home game against NAIT (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, ACAC TV) a Hockey Fights Cancer initiative.
"I think it's important to bring awareness," she said. "We have such a big voice as athletes. You look at what the NHL does every year when they put on a Hockey Fights Cancer. I think that's really important to let that trickle down because it affects everyone who plays hockey."
Thompson travelled to Edmonton for the Griffins' home opener last month and received her 2018-19 ACAC championship ring from head coach Lindsay McAlpine. The team is doing the best they can to support her from afar.
"Playing university hockey, the most important aspect is the opportunity to create a second family," said MacEwan head coach Lindsay McAlpine. "You have 25 people surrounding you as you navigate the path of adulthood. These girls feel the highs and lows of life with each other, and this is one of those unfortunate times where our 'Griff' family is experiencing one of the toughest lows."
Jenna Thompson, left, receives her 2018-19 ACAC Championship ring from Griffins head coach Lindsay McAlpine during a pre-game ceremony on Oct. 12 (Joel Kingston photography).
"This game allows our players to stand in solidarity for Jenna, while also taking time to reflect on how cancer has likely impacted their own lives as well," she continued. "Further, it gives us a chance to reflect on the importance of relationships, how you develop and maintain them, and that sport at its core is just a game, but arguably the most powerful vehicle in these girls' personal development. Jenna knows she will always have her Griffin family to lean on in times of need and celebrate beside her during the highs."
Jewell, who speaks with Thompson regularly, reiterated how the Griffins are thinking of her and her family daily.
"She was a huge glue girl, got along well with every girl on the team," she said of Thompson, who had a part in two of MacEwan's three-straight championships. "Everyone loves Jenna. She always comes to the rink with a smile on her face. When cancer removes that and impedes her ability to come and play, it's very unfortunate. She's in a really tough spot. Family always comes first."
The disease has also affected Jewell, whose grandmother survived cancer, as well as several other Griffins players who've had family members battle against it.
"We're basically bringing awareness," she said of Friday's initiative. "It's also recognizing that it's more than just a sport for girls to come to the rink. It's not just a one-day thing. It affects people all the time and I think it's important to recognize that through hockey that you can make a difference and just recognize what people are going through."
Carley Jewell, right, poses with her grandmother Barb Hellofs, a cancer survivor. The Griffins will be playing on Friday to raise awareness in the fight against the terrible disease (Photo courtesy of Carley Jewell).
The Griffins (7-1-0-0) are coming off a bye week and suddenly have company at the top of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference standings. Using their Nov. 2 win over MacEwan as a launchpad, the Red Deer College Queens (6-1-1-0) took three of four points from NAIT last weekend and sit just a point behind the Griffins for top spot in the ACAC. MacEwan's opponent NAIT (5-3-0-0) is also within striking distance.
"It is no shock that both these teams are pushing us for first place in the standings," said McAlpine. "It has been a close fight between this group for the past four years."
MacEwan won 10-5 and 2-1 over the Ooks in previous matches this season. Both teams, ironically, enter the weekend coming off 4-2 losses to RDC.
"Coming off the loss against Red Deer, I think it's important for us to not hang our heads about that," said Jewell. "I also think it's important to still come into the weekend to still push with the mindset that we're going to (keep winning).
"It's really important to bring that intensity with NAIT. We have a huge rivalry with them. I think it's really important we come in with as much intensity as we've had up until this point and not let them get under our skin. They always bring that intensity, so we need to match it or be better."
The rivals will also meet on Saturday (6 p.m., NAIT Arena, ACAC TV).
"NAIT, as I have alluded to before, has a talented group of top end forwards that we need to shut down if we want to find success," said McAlpine. "We will also have to push the pace offensively if we want to create high end scoring chances against (Kaitlyn) Slator. I expect two games with high emotion and great intensity in a tight battle for first place."
