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By Emily Wierenga
FOR forward Heather Logan, hockey is more than a
career. It’s an act of worship.
“It doesn’t matter where you are, or what
you do,” states the 25 year old hailing from Madoc, Ontario.
“Everything can be a form of worship to
God, if your mind, body, spirit and conscience are . . . working together
for his honour and glory.”
A humble admission indeed, from a player who’s
had so much worldly success. In her seven years with the National
Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), she has been inducted into the Hockey
Hall of Fame; captained the Jr. Women’s National Team; won gold at
the Jr. World Championships; and won three National Championships.
Logan now plays with the Mississauga Aeros. She is
also being funded by Gatorade to do a PhD in exercise physiology and
metabolism at the University of Guelph.
Despite these countless ‘notches on her hockey
stick,’ however, the left-shooting forward says they don’t
compare to knowing Jesus Christ.
“These successes are each very memorable, but at
the end of the day are not the fulfilling aspects of my life. As it was
with my family when I was a little girl, my relationship with Jesus is
front and centre.”
Logan’s parents also rooted her in skating from
an early age. At the tender age of three,
“I only wanted to race the other [figure]
skaters around the rink, and not do any of the fancy moves; so my dad
brought home a pair of hockey skates for me to try.”
Seven years later, Logan’s dream to pursue a
career in hockey was solidified. “In 1992 . . . my dad and I
drove to Lake Placid, New York, to watch the women’s World Hockey
Championships,” she recalls.
From that point on, her eyes were set upon one goal:
to follow in the path of hockey heroes Cheryl Pounder and Becky Keller.
Playing for AA and AAA teams in Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario, Logan finally had her breakthrough at 16. “I was offered a
sports scholarship to a prestigious girls’ private boarding school in
downtown Toronto, called the Bishop Strachan School.” There, she
captained the team for three seasons.
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“In 1999, I was a member of Team Ontario and
played at the Canada Winter Games in Cornerbrook, New-foundland, capturing
the gold medal,” she relates. She also spent 2001 – 2004
as a member of the U22 Women’s National Team.
Logan competed in the European Air Canada cup hosted
in Germany, where she won gold three years in a row. In 2004 she was named
captain of the team, and selected as tournament MVP.
Life hasn’t been without its letdowns, however.
Twice last year, Logan tried out for the senior women’s national team
– only to fail both times.
“Needless to say, this was disappointing,”
she admits, “but I am constantly reminded that my finite mind cannot
begin to understand God’s infinite plan for me.”
When queried on Logan’s contribution to the
team, Mississauga Aeros coach Ken Dufton remarks, “Heather is a
serious athlete; she is one of the fittest players I have worked with. You
know what you are going to get with Heather: hard work, passion, energy and
always a smile.
“The Aeros organization has always focused on
bringing quality people into the organization, and they don’t come
anymore quality than Heather Logan.”
No matter what the future holds, Logan knows her worth
isn’t founded on the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“Despite what happens on the ice, win or lose, I
always confide in Jesus to fill me with his purpose. That’s what
drives my life.”
Summer/Fall 2008
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