Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Full circle.
Five years after recruiting her as one of the first key additions in his five-year stint as head coach of the Olds College Broncos, Chris Leeming has signed Jesse Jack again, this time as a new member of the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team.
The three-time Broncos captain has already used four years of university eligibility with the Broncos and will have one left when she plays for the Griffins at the Canada West level in 2023-24.
"She's actually going to be our oldest player," said Leeming, who just wrapped up his first season at the helm of the Griffins. "It's going to be great to add her veteran leadership to our core."
Jack is a natural leader who plays the game the right way and sets the tone off the ice, as well.
"She's just a phenomenal human being," said Leeming. "Having had the opportunity to work with her at Olds, she's super engaged – wants to be better, wants to help everybody grow. She's just so awesome to work with. I can't say enough good things about her, so I'm excited to work with her again.
"One of her goals was to get to the U SPORTS level, so she's coming in for her final year of eligibility, and I'm really excited for her to get the opportunity."
Jack produced 31 points in 82 Alberta College Athletic Conference games for Olds College, both career best numbers for the Broncos program. While she primarily played forward, many of those games were as a defenceman, showing versatility by making a position switch when the team was short-handed on the blueline.
"She's a versatile 200-foot player," said Leeming. "The last year I was there, we lost some players at Christmas and she stepped up and played defence in the second half of the year and she made the first team all stars and won player of the year. She ended up doing that again this past season. So, she understands both ends of the ice.
"Her work ethic is high level – she just skates really well. She's really strong, super fit and she's going to lead our team in that and make a big difference."
Indeed, Jack was named ACAC Women's Hockey Player of the Year in 2022 and earned a spot on the conference's first team at defence. In 2023, Jack earned second team honours for defence and was recognized as an ACAC Academic All Canadian.
Over her time at Olds College, Jack was also named the Broncos Athletics Female Impact Athlete of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2023 and won the Female Athlete of the Year honour in 2022.
