NWSL
Photos coursesy CSA Photos
JENNA
HELLSTROM
THIS WINTER CANADIAN WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM FORWARD JENNA HELLSTROM MADE THE
BIG MOVE TO THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT AND THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE. THE 24
YEAR OLD STRIKER WHO HAS PLAYED HER ENTIRE CLUB CAREER IN SWEDEN WILL BE JOINING
ONE OF THE TOP YOUNG SIDES IN WOMEN’S CLUB SOCCER.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR SEAN MASLIN SHE TALKS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE ABROAD, WHAT
PROMPTED THE MOVE TO THE SPIRIT, AND HER GOALS WITH CANWNT.ONE ON ONE
SEAN MASLIN: IT HAS BEEN A BIG OFFSEASON FOR YOU
IN MAKING THE MOVE TO THE SPIRIT. WHAT’S THIS
WHIRLWIND EXPERIENCE FOR YOU BEEN LIKE?
JENNA HELLSTROM: I have had a pretty good offseason. At
the end of last season I got a knee injury and so I have been on
working my recovery and going through rehab. I also had the
opportunity to go to Vancouver and train before National Team
camp just to see where I am at and to run some tests. The knee
surgery that I had this offseason wasn’t a major surgery but they
were doing some cleanup on my knee. So it was great to work
with the National Team coaches and see where I am at physically
and to work with them on my goals for this season. So I think I am
back to where I was before the injury and I am feeling good and I
am ready to start the season with the Spirit.
SM: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO SIGN WITH THE
SPIRIT THIS WINTER?
JH: So I have played the last few seasons in Sweden and I was
kind of looking for a change and was looking at playing either in
another country in Europe or the NWSL. The NWSL is one of the
best leagues in the world and I felt like playing in the NWSL would
give me more opportunities with the National Team. I feel like my
role with the National Team has over the past few years been the
same role and at this point in my career and at my age I felt like ‘
You know what I want to make that next step in my career to see
what I can do.’ So after the World Cup I played for about a month
and a half until I came home and had the surgery. At that time I
then talked to my agent and told him to send my information out.
Washington was the first team that showed interest and offered
me a contract and I think at this point in my career it is the right
move for me. It is a young team and I think this is a great league
and I am excited to get started.
SM: IN TERMS OF STYLE HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR
STRENGTHS FIT IN WITH HOW THE SPIRIT PLAY?
JH: Two of my biggest strengths are my speed and that I am very
physical. In my conversations with coach Richie [Burke] and Tom
[Torres, Washington Spirit assistant coach] those were things that
they were looking for, especially on the wings. As a player, I love
bombing down the wings and I love putting crosses into the box.
Those were two things had expressed that the
club needed and that is definitely the type of
player that I am.SM: GROWING UP WHAT GOT YOU INTO
SOCCER?
JH: Oh gosh that was so long ago! So originally
my parents were from northern Canada where
hockey is the main sport. My dad tried to get
me into that but I didn’t really want to play so
I never really played for a team. I also tried tee
ball and gymnastics and finally at about the
age of 4 I got into soccer. Looking back on it I
remember being speedy and I didn’t really pass
the ball much-I really wanted to keep the ball
to myself. But I definitely wasn’t the kid picking
dandelions!SM: WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER
GROWING UP?
JH: Growing up I didn’t really watch a lot of
soccer because hockey was the big sport in
my house. But when I was young it was Messi
and then when things started getting more
competitive and I started watching my team,
which is Manchester City, I loved Kyle Walker.SM: WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LIFE LESSON
THAT YOU LEARNED WHILE MAKING
THE TRANSITION FROM TO COLLEGE
TO PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY IN
SWEDEN?
JH: I think for me the biggest that I learned
was knowing your opportunity will come. The
first pro team that I played for in Sweden [FC
Rosengard] was one of if not the best team and
Sweden and had made the Champions League.
So joining Rosengard was a huge step for me.
Plus I went to Kent State which is in the Mid
American Conference and it is not a big schooland that’s not a huge conference. So that
also was a huge step for me in and of itself.
There was also a point in the season where
it was looking like I would start due to some
injuries and then that got taken away. The
thing that I kept reminding myself is that
everything happens for a reason and shortly
after that I got called into my first National
Team camp. Especially when you are
younger and fall short you can’t put your
head down. You don’t have time for that.
You have to keep working and when your
opportunity comes you have to make the
most out of it.SM: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS
ENTERING INTO THIS SEASON FOR
THE SPIRIT AND FOR THE CANADIAN
NATIONAL TEAM?
JH: With the Spirit I am not sure what my
individual goals are yet because I don’t
know what to expect since it is my first year
with the team. Obviously I want to fight for
minutes and I want for us to finish at the
top of the table. We finished fifth last year
so the goal is to do better than that.For the National Team it is a big year with
the Olympics this summer and training
camps throughout the year. But for a player
the first thing to come is playing well for
your club team so I definitely want to get
used to playing in Washington and that will
hopefully lead to getting called up before
the Olympics. The Olympic roster is a much
smaller roster than the World Cup so I need
to push and leave everything on the pitch
so I can make the squad.