BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Jenn Charron has come a long way, and
sacrificed plenty to get her shot at playing high level
soccer.
Charron, originally from Sault Ste. Marie,
now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. She dreamed of playing
elite soccer again after a successful NCAA
Division I career.
Charron, a physiotherapist in Little Rock,
saw her opportunity when she found out about the Sudbury
Canadians franchise, which currently
competes in the United Soccer League -
W-League.
Charron, 26, made a request to Canadians
officials to play.
It was hard for the Canadians' brass to
ignore.
"Jenn's life-long dream was to play in the
highest league possible for women," said Canadians head coach
Frank Malvaso.
"After looking at her request, we decided
that anyone who has that kind of determination and drive, is
someone we need to afford an opportunity to. Jenn had played
NCAA soccer before and she can hold her own on the
field."
For Charron, it was more than just packing
her bags and coming to Sudbury.
The dream almost cost Charron her
career.
"I almost lost my job because they weren't
going to give me any time off to travel up to Canada and back
for three months," said Charron.
"This would have caused a loss of immigration
status in the United States and a cascade of stability
problems. I also had to sacrifice financial stability by
transporting myself to Sudbury from Little Rock for the season.
My job ended up working with me, we came up with a compromise,
but it leaves me missing a few games."
All the troubles were worth it when Charron
finally stepped on the pitch a few weeks ago against Vermont at
the Laurentian University field.
"I have got to experience the excitement of
playing at such a high level with and against top notch
players," said Charron.
"My parents got to see me play for the first
time in 10 years, so that alone was worth it. At the time, I
looked at my parents and I was proud to be out
there on home turf for once. Then the irony
sunk in...I had gone to the United States to pursue my soccer
dreams of playing in the top women's
league, but had returned to Canada,and of all
places Sudbury, to fulfil those dreams."
Travelling and fatigue wreak havoc on
Charron's endevour.
"I am on the go from 4:30 am to catch my
flight, and arrive at 4:30 pm in the Sault," said Charron.
"Then it's another three to four hour drive to Sudbury. I play
for a day or two, then it all happens again on the way back.
Then I wake up and go to work the next day.
"Just knowing what I am there to do is enough
to keep my energy levels going. This is what I wanted since I
was five. Not many people get this opportunity, so I know to
treasure every moment."
Charron has been a welcomed addition to the
Canadians.
"Jenn's exactly what we are looking for,"
said Malvaso. "When you have an example like Jenn, living that
distance away and showing that kind of passion, it underscores
just how important this really is and what it means to people.
The girls immediately gravitated to Jenn because they knew
where she was coming from and the sacrifices she has made. It
was encouraging to see and adds one of those qualities to the
team you just don't
get from practicing and playing."
