Breaking: Jayna Hefford named interim CWHL Commissioner

Add another line to Jayna Hefford’s resume: Interim Commissioner of the CWHL, Head of Hockey Operations and Player Development.

“I am honoured and excited to step into this role with the support and trust of the Board of Directors,” Jayna Hefford said in the league’s press release. “I am fully committed and focused on setting our League and its players in a positive direction for the upcoming season. I look forward to engaging with the players, our key business partners, stakeholders and sponsors, our broadcaster and of course our fans, all whom have collectively brought the CWHL to the standard it enjoys today, and the upcoming draftees who will secure its future.”

Starting today she will work with outgoing commissioner Brenda Andress, who announced her departure yesterday. She’ll be officially appointed on Aug. 1.

Hefford will be focusing on the 2018 Draft and the upcoming season. The league is searching for a permanent commissioner.

The CWHL Board of Directors is pleased to announce that five-time Olympian and Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Jayna Hefford is to be appointed as Interim Commissioner, Head of Hockey Operations and Player Development
https://t.co/SFgKKq7QPF

— CWHL (@TheCWHL) July 19, 2018

Hefford is a pioneer of women’s hockey. She played in the Central Ontario Women’s Hockey League, the original National Women’s Hockey League, and the CWHL. Accounting for games across all three leagues, she’s played in 418 games scoring 439 goals. She was the NWHL top scorer five times, including three consecutive seasons (2000-01, 2002-05 and 2006-07).

She won the Angela James Bowl for top scorer in the 2008-09 season, the second season of the CWHL. She narrowly missed the award in the first season, after leading in scoring all season. Since 2016, the CWHL awards the Jayna Hefford Trophy to the most outstanding player in the league, as voted by the CWHL players. She was named to the All-Time CWHL team in 2017 as well.

She is also one of the most decorated members of Hockey Canada. Hefford played in five Olympic tournaments and 12 World Championships before retiring from the national team in 2015. On June 26, she was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

In 2002, she scored what would be the game-winning-goal in the waning seconds of the second period of the gold medal game. Hefford is second to teammate Hayley Wickenhesier in games played, goals, and points in her Hockey Canada career.