Jennifer Love says wearing the maple leaf on the world stage is a dream come true.
“To represent Canada is huge for me,” said the Sarnia Sting’s athletic therapist, who was recently named to Team Canada’s support staff for the upcoming 2024 Under-17 World Challenge.
“I know I am good at my job — but it was still a surprise to be selected.”
Love, 28, will serve as the national team’s athletic therapist at the tournament — which showcases future hockey stars from around the world — to be held in Sarnia Nov. 1-9.
“It’s going to be really cool, getting to be at our home rink,” said Love, a Windsor native who is heading into her fourth season with the Sting hockey club.
“I know where everything is in this rink…I know our medical system, etc., so that part will be very nice.
“But I still think it will come with its own challenges,” she added. “Everything does; and I am excited to see what those are and take them head on.”
She’ll join the rest of the U17 bench staff this week in Oakville for the National Under-17 ‘Program of Excellence’ development camp, where 80 players — including Sting forward Alessandro Di Iorio and prospect Beckham Edwards — will vie for a spot on the roster of Team Canada Red and Team Canada Black.
The U17 World Challenge, an international tournament hosted by Hockey Canada, features two Canadian teams and four international countries.
“I think it will be really cool to see everybody work together — with everybody coming from different leagues in the CHL and different perspectives,” said Love, who will join head coaches Travis Crickard and Mathieu Turcotte, both from the QMJHL. “Everyone has a different perspective and different expertise, so to be able to gauge from all their different minds, I think, will be a huge learning opportunity.”
In the meantime, Love is also preparing for the upcoming season with the Sting — a job she says, often doesn’t feel like work.
“Honestly, I just enjoy the camaraderie of everybody,” she said. “I think it’s a very unique job — while I work long hours and it can be crazy at times with the travel — everyone is here to help and we make a really good work environment.”
She's also invested in being a role model for young women in the community. Earlier this year, Love hosted her second annual ‘Power Play’ event, inviting young female hockey players to a full-day experience including on and off-ice training as well as a seminar featuring talks from other women working in the hockey industry.
Meanwhile, the U17 assignment is another notch towards her goal of working in the National Hockey League.
“It’s something I always tell the players — their goal is the exact same as mine — we’re all trying to make the NHL, so, watching us all work at it, but from different angles, is really cool to see.”
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