East Lansing, Mich. -- Kind, skilled and unselfish.

Those are all words that CCYHA Blue Jackets Girls Hockey assistant coach Emily Moersdorf used to describe forward Jenna Day.

Day has been instrumental in the Jackets’ success for the past two years. She even scored the overtime goal against the Armstrong Arrows that secured her team’s spot at the 2024 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 19U National Championships for the first time in 11 years.

“I didn't see it, but I heard it, and I heard the noise,” Day said. “Being a part of that huddle afterwards in the locker room and the after vibe was just surreal. It was something I've never experienced before. Like that happiness and joy of achieving something that you've worked so hard for two years is an incredible feeling.”

Day is from Independence, Kentucky, so she has to drive 2 hours to and from practice in Columbus twice a week just to hit the ice with her team. But, when she’s not at the rink, she is actively making a difference in her community.

“When you commit yourself to driving 2 hours twice a week — 8 hours in the car every week — it is a character builder,” Moersdorf said. “It's a commitment level that's like no other, and if someone like Jenna puts that type of energy towards giving back to the community by being a public servant, whatever community she's a part of is going to be a better place, just like our team is a better place for her being on it."

In her freshman year of high school, Day’s classmates were figuring out what they wanted to do with their lives, but all Day knew was that she wanted to serve her hometown in some way. The captain at her local firehouse happened to be a friend of a friend and got her involved in the Edgewood Firehouse’s junior firefighter program three years ago. Day wants to pursue a career as a paramedic firefighter following graduation.

“I've always wanted to help people. I've always wanted to be the first person to help, and the first person to jump up and do something,” Day said. “So, honor is a big thing in my family — honor and pride. I've just always wanted to help people. It's always been my biggest thing. I got to see it in my family that was in the military, so I've always wanted to help and serve in some way and in any way that I could.”

Day participates in the junior firefighter program twice a month while she works toward completing her 30 hours of skill sessions required to take part in ride-alongs. Following her completion of the program and graduation from high school, Day will have the opportunity to move onto their internship program for two years before she can be fully hired on as a firefighter.

With her firefighting training, the 17-year-old is also looking to become a fire protection specialist for the Air Force to further serve her country.

Her passion for service comes from two of her uncles who served in the military for over 20 years. Day and her family tragically lost one of her uncles due to post-traumatic stress disorder-related suicide, but both of their impacts on her life shine through today.

Day now volunteers with the Tristate Veterans Community Alliance and American Legion Post 275. With her volunteering position, Day was able to play a part in assisting veterans look for jobs at a job fair to help them transition back to civilian life in the smoothest way possible.

“Hearing these peoples’ stories and everything good that they've done in their lives, it definitely really inspired me and made me want to do and lead with good in my life,” Day said.

Despite all the things that Day has done for her community in her young life, her favorite accomplishment is one she is currently in the midst of — the Jackets' journey to nationals.

“People question, do you really drive 2 hours to practice every day?” Day said. “I say, ‘Yes, because this is how much this means to me.’”

Every game from the 2024 Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships exclusively at USAHockeyTV.com.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.