When Hedda Gjerde chose to go to Carleton to join the Ravens women’s hockey team, the Norwegian native faced the tough challenge of adapting to a different lifestyle.
One challenge was not only on the ice playing a different style of hockey, but also having to deal with a new Canadian culture.
“It’s been a huge transition for me, but I’m starting to get used to it,” the first-year defenceman said. “It’s mostly the food and getting up early, and the language is the biggest one, but I’m getting there.”
She said she has already found a family in her new Ravens teammates, and being invited to five Thanksgiving dinners — despite only being here for a few months — shows how they are all growing closer.
“I would say that without the team I wouldn’t have done as well as I’m doing,” she said. “They’re helpful with everything and anything, from school to workouts, so it definitely helps being on a team with an awesome bunch of girls.”
Ravens head coach Shelley Coolidge said she believes Gjerde’s transition to Carleton has been “exceptional.”
“We’re very happy with the skill set she brings to our program, and the level of compete she brings to practice,” Coolidge said.
“She’s also fit right in with the team, and you can see from her interaction with the girls that she’s already got a wide range of friends.”
Growing up in Hønefoss, Norway, Gjerde admits being a Canadian university student-athlete was not originally something she imagined, but a trip to Carleton two years ago changed everything.
Coolidge said Gjerde’s first experience in Canada took place on the trip where Carleton hosted the Norwegian national team for an exhibition game.
“She had an opportunity to have a really good experience here and then made a decision to come and play here, so it was very fortunate for us to host her team,” Coolidge said.
One of the players most helpful in Gjerde’s transition is former Ravens captain Sara Seiler.
Seiler, now graduated, has represented Germany several times on the international stage.
She is now the associate fitness coach of the Ravens women’s hockey team, and still practices with the team in preparation for Germany’s participation in the upcoming women’s world championships taking place in Ottawa in April 2013.
Seiler said Gjerde’s current situation reminds herself of her own adjustment roughly five years ago.
“I might have had a bit of an advantage because of the year I played hockey in Ottawa before I came to Carleton, so I knew the city already and that the country was crazy for hockey,” she said.
“Other than that, I think we’re really similar. We’re both from two national team programs, and we’re both athletes that are used to training hard and wanted to develop over here.”
Gjerde was quick to point out how important it has been having Seiler act as a mentor for her.
“She’s a hard worker, she’s dedicated, she’s very disciplined with workouts, and she helps me push myself,” Gjerde said. “We’re kind of international rivals, but we’re working together and she’s helping me achieve my goals.”
Gjerde is aiming to play on the Norwegian national team and hopefully help her country get into the Olympics for the first time by qualifying for the Sochi 2014 Games.
“Going to the Olympics is a big goal for our national team,” she said.
“We didn’t qualify for Vancouver, but we’re definitely aiming for going to Sochi. We’re actually playing qualifications in February in Slovakia, so that’s our focus for now.”
Gjerde has already proven to be a factor in the beginning of her Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) career. She scored two goals, both on the power play, in her first three games, despite missing time early from a concussion she received in training camp.
“I guess I have a more responsible role with this team,” she said. “I’ve always been the defenceman laying back and controlling the game, but now I’m actually able to come up and join the rush, and be more of a leader than I’ve been before.”
Coolidge described Gjerde as a “complete defenceman” who will help the program greatly during her time with the Ravens.
Meanwhile, Gjerde said that even though moving to the other side of the world to Canada has been quite an adjustment for her, she has absolutely no regrets about her decision to come to Carleton.
“I would actually say it is the best decision of my life so far.”
