Herrfort helps Canada claim silver at World University Games

WATERLOO – Palmerston native Leah Herrfort has returned from her second World University Games with a silver medal.

The winter edition of the university games, hosted by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), are held every two years for student athletes aged 18 to 25. 

Between Jan. 13 to 23, this year’s FISU event featured 11 sports in six municipalities in Italy’s Piemonte region. 

Two years ago, Herrfort won gold with Canada’s women’s hockey team in Lake Placid, New York. 

This year, the team fell short in the final game on Jan. 20 against Czechia, losing 2-1 in overtime.  

“We just got beat by a really good goalie; we outshot them by 52 to 16,” Herrfort told the Advertiser. 

She explained the team “just couldn’t put the puck into the back of the net,” and was disheartened when two of Team Canada’s goals were disallowed. 

“We outshot them, we did our job, we outplayed them and we deserved to win, but sometimes that’s not how hockey works,” she said.

Czechia scored the first goal 12 minutes into the third period with Canada following close behind, scoring on the next shift a minute later. 

“We had really good resilience and that was the first time we had been down in the tournament; it was a good comeback but obviously we fell short,” Herrfort said. 

Team Canada made a statement in its opening game against Chinese Taipei, winning 16-0 on Jan. 11. The team played five games, winning all but one.

“We got silver medals and they are pretty nice; they are heavy but obviously not the right colour,” she added. 

Herrfort scored seven goals and added five assists in the tournament, but said, “It would have been nice to score in the final game.”

‘Phenomenal’ skill level

“I had a bunch of people ask me which experience I preferred and the only answer I could really give was that they were completely different experiences,” she said. 

“The teams were both individually amazing … the skill level was just phenomenal.” 

Although it was the same tournament, the location and number of teams and games played all differed. 

“We had a couple days off, which I don’t think we really had in Lake Placid, so we were able to go and explore Italy and have some good food,” Herrfort said.

Her future

As she finishes her last year playing for the University of Waterloo women’s hockey team, Herrfort has a “go with the flow” mentality when it comes to  her future.

In the coming weeks she plans to speak with her agent about her next steps. 

The possibility of playing in the Professional Women’s Hockey League or another pro league overseas is still in her mind. 

“If nothing comes or [if] I don’t want to play any more, then I think I would love to get into coaching, whether that is minor hockey or at the university level,” she said. 

Wherever she ends up, Herrfort hopes she stays involved with the sport in some way.

Reporter