Jennifer Wakefield’s SDHL season is over

Brynäs IF forward Jennifer Wakefield’s hockey season is over, the club announced Feb. 3. She left Sweden the same day, returning home to Canada to recuperate.

Wakefield, 29, got only two games into the season before a devastating concussion kept her out for the next 18. She returned in January, only to be hit again seven games later and suffer a resurgence.

“It’s clear we’ll miss Jennifer. She is a fantastic hockey player who lifts all the teams she is in. It has been awesome to have her here in Brynäs,” said head coach Magnus Carlsson.

View this post on Instagram

It wasn't the start or the ending I wanted, but there are some things that you just have no control over. Thank you Brynäs! ------------------------------------------------------ Time to fly home, focus on health, and regroup for next year.

A post shared by Jennifer Wakefield (@jennywake9) on Feb 3, 2019 at 10:05am PST

For her part, Wakefield expressed disappointment that the season hadn’t followed the script: “I wanted to play much more this season than I have done, of course,” she told the club’s website.

She continued, “I’m grateful for the opportunity that Brynäs has given me and I wish the girls good luck in the playoffs. Now my main focus is to go home to get better.”

In total, Wakefield played only nine games with Brynäs and scored 18 points, 13 goals and five assists. The team finished seventh in the standings with 40 points.

Brynäs takes on MODO in the first round of the SDHL playoffs, starting Feb. 13.