Maki Jenner has once again made broadcasting history.
Last year, she became the first woman to do play-by-play for the National Lacrosse League (NLL) on TSN. This year she’s taken on yet another role, doing play-by-play for the broadcast.
“Growing up, I would say that I didn’t even think that this could be a dream that I could chase, because I just didn’t think that it was feasible because there weren’t so many women’s voices in sports broadcasting,” said Jenner, communications manager for the Halifax Thunderbirds.
Being on a broadcast with TSN’s Pat Gregoire is familiar for Jenner, who usually has the role of sideline reporter.
“It’s the first time that I get to work with Pat Gregoire in the booth, and as lacrosse fans know, he’s the best in the business,” she said. “So, to get to play off of him and see what he does and also just watch how he works in that analytical role is going to be huge for me.”
Rounding out the broadcast was TSN’s Ashley Docking on the sidelines.
“There’s a ton of feminine energy. We’re really excited about it, but it’s huge,” Jenner said of throwing down to Docking for stories throughout the broadcast. “I think other than in finals in past years where they’ve had two female sideline reporters, this will be the first time that there’s a female in the booth and then a female on the sideline, and it’s huge. It’s just so fun that you get to have that girl power.”
Long history with lacrosse
Jenner grew up around the game of lacrosse, with her uncle Teddy, her father Fredi and her mother Linda all playing.
“She would tell you she had a lacrosse stick in her hand when she was three,” Teddy recalled of his niece growing up.
But her road as an athlete wasn’t easy.
“I think when I was at school, everyone goes through their own struggles and highs and lows and you just kind of have to learn to ride the wave,” Jenner recalled of her time in the U.S.A. playing college lacrosse.
“It came to a point where dealing with my mental health, and some injuries that I faced, I just decided to have enough, and I think there was a period of time where I was really angry at the sport of lacrosse, just because it was all that I knew, and it was what I identified myself with.”
“As an athlete the path doesn’t always go the way we expected and she went through some tough times in college and kind of lost the love of the game a bit,” said Teddy.
“Just watching the game evolve and kind of being around me and what I was doing in the early stages of my career allowed her to see that there was another path.”
Teddy Jenner played in the NLL and started his post-playing career as an in-game host in the league in Washington.
“You see him in a different role doing play-by-play in Colorado, and getting to San Diego and getting to do stuff there, and now at TSN and just listening to his passion, just to help to reassure for myself that this was something that I wanted to pursue,” she said of watching her uncle’s progress over the years.
“So, his words mean more than a lot of people just because I have the utmost respect for him, and I think he’s been a key role player in my development. I’m just appreciative of everything that he’s done for me.”
Inspiring the next generation
For Jenner, her love for the game can be seen through her coaching and her broadcasting working with the Halifax Thunderbirds.
Encouraging the next generation of female lacrosse players is a huge part of her giving back to the game.
“I think something my parents have always told me is you never win or lose, you always win or learn,” she said.
“I think that’s something I’ve tried to take in all aspects of my life, and I think that’s something I’ve also been really open about with the girls that I coach.”
She added that accolades are good to strive for, but learning comes through tough times.
“I also want to tell them, ‘Hey, look, I had a hard time in college. I had a really difficult time. I dealt with injuries. I dealt with mental health struggles. I had these issues. You know, I’ve had to move across the country, different places in the U.S. to help pursue what I want to pursue,’” she explained.
“I think as honest and open as you can be with them, to let them know that if they’re dealing with things or they’re struggling, that’s okay, but you can still keep going. So it’s everything to me to hold myself to a high standard while being vulnerable with them so that they know that whatever they want to do, they can do it. They just have to believe in themselves.”
Something her players take from her every day.
“I really look up to her as a coach, as a player,” said Brynn Martin, one of Jenner’s lacrosse players who hopes to major in film and media one day. “You see her doing this and it kind of just really inspires you all around.”
“It’s incredible,” added Mykayla McDonald. “Because even if you don’t want to play, you’re still able to be in the community and I think the community is really great; Lacrosse Nova Scotia and Lacrosse Canada, all of it, so I think it’s really great that Maki is still in it and I’d love to be in it if I can.”
McDonald added that her coach gave her a love for lacrosse that she hadn’t had before.
It’s also an exciting moment for Lacrosse Nova Scotia.
“Even though we live in a world where women can do anything, there are still a lot of glass ceilings in place that can make it tough to see past the barriers. For that reason, it is still so important to see women doing the things we want to do in every facet of life,” said president Charlotte Henderson in a statement to CTV News.
“Even though we can see through the ceiling, there is still a lot of breaking that we need to do, and it’s awesome to see women - especially young women - doing that.”
‘Enjoy the moment’
For her family watching on the other side of the country, Teddy said they would be proud no mater what, giving her one last piece of uncle advice.
“You know, those first five minutes are brutal. They’re a mental pretzel a lot of times, and as a broadcaster, you’re your own worst critic,” Teddy advised.
“So don’t worry about messing up a name or a wrong stat or missing something. Just go out there, bring the energy, have some fun and enjoy the moment. Because you know what? The game is going to be over, and she’ll be able to look back on this and be like, ‘Wow, that was that was incredible.’”
As for the call, Jenner enjoyed every minute of it, with the Buffalo Bandits taking the win 11-10 over Halifax.
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