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| Jessie Herner has anchored the Bears defence. |
Growing up
in Kindersley, Sask., Jessie always wanted to be like her older sister Kori,
who is seven years Jessie’s senior. Jessie discovered her passion for the game
by going to rink to see Kori play.
“I followed my older sister Kori,” said Jessie. “I used to
watch her, when I was younger.
“I just wanted to be like her.”
Jessie was
able to make it to the rink to see Kori play for the Saskatoon Stars of the
Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League for two seasons from 2011 to 2013
and for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team for five
campaigns from 2013 to 2018.
These days,
Jessie is a sturdy 17-year-old defender for the SFMAAAHL’s Prince Albert
Northern Bears. On Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place, she had her team’s winning
goal and an assist as the Bears downed the host Stars 4-1 in a regular season
clash.
Kori is now
one of the 24-year-old assistant coaches with the Stars.
Jessie is
skating through her fourth full season in the SFMAAAHL spending her rookie
campaign in 2016-17 with the Battlefords Sharks before joining the Bears.
When it
comes to playing the game, Jessie has a confident admission when it comes to
grading where she is at compared to Kori.
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| Jessie Herner, left, battles for a puck in the corner. |
With that
said, Jessie saw what could be accomplished in hockey by following Kori’s
career. Jessie was in the ancient Rutherford Rink on March 2, 2014, when the
Huskies won a series deciding Game 3 of the Canada West championship series 2-1
in double overtime against the University of Regina Cougars.
That
victory came in Kori’s rookie year with the Huskies.
“It was awesome seeing her win something like that,” said
Jessie. “She was my idol out there, so I loved watching her.
“Now that she is done, I get to play against her now, so
that is also pretty cool.”
During the
summers, the two were often together on the softball diamonds in Kindersley and
area. Kori often coached the teams Jessie pitched for.
“We won two provincial titles together, so that was pretty
cool,” said Jessie. “For her ball team, I play up with her sometimes.
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| Jessie Herner had a goal and an assist for the Bears on Saturday. |
Coming up
through the minor hockey ranks in Kindersley and area, Jessie played hockey in
boys leagues until her first year of bantam hockey, when she suited up for the
West Central Wheat Kings girls’ team.
Jessie said
she still carries friendships from her time in boys’ hockey into the present
day.
“You are always with your best friends every day, and you
start playing with the boys,” said Jessie. “I was with one of my best friends
Ty Bahm.
“He plays for the (Prince Albert Midget AAA) Mintos now. I
was always with him, and we just had a good time together.”
Jessie enjoyed all the friendships she has made in hockey throughout
the years. A number of friendships were formed from attending tryout camps for
various Saskatchewan provincial teams.
At age 14, Jessie figured she had to play in Saskatchewan’s
female midget AAA league, if she was going to move on to skating in the
post-secondary ranks. When the chance came to join the Sharks, Jessie took it.
“I was pretty nervous to move away,” said Jessie. “I was
also excited, because I got to live with Kori that year in Saskatoon.
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| Jessie Herner has been solid for four SFMAAAHL seasons. |
Jessie lived
with Kori in Saskatoon and commuted up to Battlefords to play for the Sharks. As
a 15-year-old sophomore in 2017-18, she elected to join the Bears, who entered
that campaign as the defending SFMAAAHL champions.
During that
first campaign with the Bears, Jessie continued to live with Kori in Saskatoon
and commuted up to Prince Albert to join the Bears.
Jessie
lived with a billet family for half of last season in Prince Albert, and is staying
with a billet family through to the end of the current campaign.
During her
time in the SFMAAAHL ranks, Jessie believes she has grown as a player.
“I’ve improved a lot over the last four years I’d say,” said
Jessie. “My first year I was a little shaky out there, because I was one of the
youngest girls out there.
“This year, I’ve just brought my confidence right up, and
I’m feeling really good.”
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| Jessie Herner will join the U of Saskatchewan Huskies next season. |
“I wanted to stay close to home,” said Jessie. “I knew Kori
was once here, and she loved it.
“I thought I would follow her and try it out.”
Before she
joins the Huskies, Jessie is looking forward to suiting up for the Bears as the
host team for the Esso Cup female midget AAA national hockey championship
tournament. It runs in “Hockey Town North” from April 19 to 26 in the new year.
“It is just bringing us all closer together,” said Jessie. “We’re
just building up to be ready for that and show that we’re actually a team that
deserves to be there.”
Against the
Stars on Saturday, the Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period. Emma
Tremblay, Paris Oleksyn and Taylor Leitch all had singles along with Jessie.
Sydney
Mercier replied for the Stars in the third.
Janae
Neufeld made 22 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Bears, who improved to
8-6. Kaitlyn Cadrain started in goal for the Stars turning away 6-of-10 shots
in the first period.
Arden
Kliewer played the final two frames in relief stopping all 23 shots sent her
way. The Stars fell to 5-8-2.
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| The Bears celebrate their win over the Stars on Saturday. |
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to stankssports@gmail.com.
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