Djurgårdens IF';s Betty Jouanny is an absolute testament to perseverance in
the face of repeated setbacks. There are not many hockey players that could
break their foot - twice within the past year and a half, no less - in the
exact same spot, and still be able to play at an elite level and represent
their country. Jouanny has done just that, and she continues to do it still.
The 26-year-old forward from France will be playing her first season
with Djurgårdens IF after five previous seasons in the SDHL as a member
of Brynäs IF. The SDHL (Svenska damhockeyligan) is the top women's league in
Sweden, and is as fine of a collection of talent as the NWHL or CWHL. A number
of Canadian and American players including the likes of Jennifer Wakefield,
Sidney Morin, Kennedy Marchment, and Kaitlyn Tougas currently play in the
league as well.Betty Jouanny skates full speed ahead during Djurgårdens IF
practice (Photo Credit: Johan Sahlén/Djurgårdens IF Hockey).

THW caught up with Jouanny as she embarks upon the 2018-19 season as a
member Djurgårdens. For this writer, it was particularly nice to catch up
with Jouanny after speaking with her nearly two years ago. This time around we
discussed her aspirations for the upcoming season, what brought her to the
team based in Stockholm, and what she has been working on with regards to her
training.So Long to Brynäs IF

Jouanny was born in the city of Annecy, but spent most of her life growing up
in the town Chamonix - one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe for
skiing. Despite a picturesque home, she sought to play hockey at the highest
level possible. Hence, joining Brynäs IF in the SDHL beginning with the
2013-14 season. In 147 career regular season games with Brynäs, Jouanny
scored 25 goals and 36 assists for 61 career points. Her finest season
statistically was her second year - the 2014-15 season - when she compiled 10
goals and seven assists for 17 points in 28 games. Thus far, those have been
her career highs in the SDHL for both goals and points.

As they say, all things must pass. Jouanny turned in a most decent 2017-18
campaign. Having missed a sizable portion of the year prior due to her foot
injury (more on that shortly) she played a complete final season for Brynäs.
Feeling fully healed and loaded for bear, Jouanny played all 36 regular season
games with the team and both of their playoff contests. While her two goals
scored in the regular season were the lowest total of her career, the 10
assists she added were a career high. Despite the positives - particularly
coming back so strongly after both injury and surgery - Jouanny knew that it
was time to move on.

Igår stod hon på is första gången sedan hon bröt foten, idag tar hon oss
igenom hennes känslor över nya hemmaarenan, vad hon ser fram emot och att hon
 är redo att ge 100%. Möt ett av nyförvärven, Betty Jouanny.
pic.twitter.com/VmHJowlBNN

- DIF Hockey Dam (@difhockeydam) August 2, 2018

"The last SDHL season was not a very exciting season with Brynäs," Jouanny
shared. "We had a tough season, and it was hard to keep the motivation all of
the time. And a lot of girls and I decided to leave because for me it was five
years, and I wanted to discover something new. With a new coach, new teammates,
 new training, and be on a team that has a winning spirit. I decided to join
Djurgårdens because I heard that it was a team that did a lot of good things
for the girls, and that it was a good team too to improve me more as a player
with every training."

Djurgårdens has lined up a squad for the 2018-19 season with some truly
talented players on it. Scoring aces like Josefine Jakobsen, Isabel
Waidacher, and Andrea Dalen are all now teammates of Jouanny';s. Adding
Jouanny into the mix will provide versatility to Djurgårdens, as the French
forward can play either center or wing. Surrounded by such talented forwards
will pay dividends for Jouanny as well, and she could easily have her best
offensive season yet.Overcoming Injury and Adversity

The first time that Jouanny broke her right foot she had five screws and one
metal plate inserted into it. Although she has suffered the same injury twice,
she first broke her foot in a Jan. 11, 2017 game against Leksands IF. To add
icing onto the cake, the injury occurred just a week after her 25th birthday.
The incident obviously put an immediate end to her 2016-17 SDHL season. Jouanny
 never allowed it to slow her down though. As soon as she could commence
working out and exercising again, she did so in order to come back stronger
than ever. Enough so that at the time, this writer referred to her as a
"butterfly made of steel".

Jouanny had posted a quote to one of her social media accounts shortly after
this first setback. The quote accompanied a photo of her performing chin-ups,
and it is as follows:

"The difference between who you are and who you want to be is the work that you
 put in. I am just working hard to make my comeback. Everyday is not easy; it
is mentally hard but you can't change what happened. It is in this period that
family and friends are very important - when you can't use your legs, you can
use your arms. If you want to train you always can; no excuses . It is just
your motivation and the work that you put in."Betty Jouanny carries the puck in
 during a Djurgårdens IF practice (Photo Credit: Johan Sahlén/Djurgårdens IF
 Hockey).

It is said that lightning never strikes twice in the same spot. Well, in
Jouanny';s case it somehow managed to do so. Not even half a year ago from the
time of this interview, Juoanny broke her foot once more - in the exact same
spot. This time it was during the 2018 IIHF Women';s Division IA World
Championships. Representing France for the 13th time in international play, the
 injury occurred on Apr. 11, 2018 during a 3-2 win over Austria. At least
initially, losing Jouanny seemed to spell disaster. Through the first three
games of the tournament - including the one in which she was injured - she was
a point-per-game player with a goal and two assists. Perhaps rallying behind
the loss of an injured comrade and one of their best players, France finished
the tournament having won four of their five games and did so on home soil.
Jouanny and her teammates came away with a gold medal and a promotion into the
top division for the 2019 Women';s Worlds. France has never played in this
highest level of IIHF competition for women';s hockey. This made her injury
somewhat easier to swallow.A Fresh Start and Moving Beyond

Now mostly recovered - and with six new screws and a new metal plate installed
- Jouanny is more committed to her own rebuild than ever. While she admits
nervousness, her never-say-die attitude is what is ensuring her preparedness
for the upcoming SDHL season. It is an opportunity for a fresh start and being
able to move beyond her injury.

Jouanny chuckled a little, "I don't know if I should laugh or if I should be
nervous, but two times I broke my foot at the same place in one and a half
years, so it is beginning to be a lot. But I am one of those people who works
hard and loves training. It is my drug, so maybe that';s why I can come back
and find my level every time. But it is frustrating because I did one of my
best World Championships before this happened after the third game. So it is
hard to get an injury again when you are on top. It is two summers now that I
haven't had a holiday because I must do my rehab in the hospital. Right now I
am not 100%. I have some pain that has stayed in my foot, so I work on it and I
 hope it is going to be good. It is four and a half months today (that we';re
speaking) after my operation."Betty Jouanny looks forward to new opportunities
as a member of Djurgårdens IF for the 2018-19 SDHL season (Photo Credit: Johan
 Sahlén/Djurgårdens IF Hockey).

While Jouanny may be diminutive - she is only 5-foot-2 and 120 pounds - she is
tough as nails. Yes, there is a natural need to proceed with caution and
ensuring that her rehab continues to be successful. That being said, Jouanny is
 the furthest thing from a quitter. If anything, she is ready to move full
speed ahead.The Excitement Over a New Year

At the time of her interview Jouanny and Djurgårdens have only had practices.
 The team';s first live games of the 2018-19 SDHL season are just a few days a
way. Autumn is generally not considered a time for new beginnings, but in
Jouanny';s case it may as well be the freshness of spring right now. A new
team, a new season, a new start. Coming off of substantial injuries in an
environment of newness, there is even a sense of rebirth around her. Jouanny';s
 abilities should be greatly accentuated by the talents of the new teammates
surrounding her.

"My goal is to come back at the same level as the last year," Jouanny stated
when asked what goals she has in mind for her first year with Djurgårdens.
"And after we will see."Betty Jouanny has competed internationally for France
for more than 11 years (Photo Credit: Mats Bekkevold).

Aside from all that, she has also witnessed a dream come true this past year
with France';s promotion. For the first time Jouanny will compete for her
country against the best of the best in international play. USA, Canada,
Finland, Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic, and so on - they will all be there in
April 2019. So while Djurgårdens brings her new beginnings, her homeland
gives her the opportunity for newfound excitement on hockey';s international
stage.

"I am very excited to begin a new season and see what the team (Djurgårdens)
can do," she told THW. "But the most exciting thing is the World Championship
in Finland in the top division. This is going to be the first time for the
French team, and it is just amazing. So my goal it is to be 100% for that
because it has been 11 years that I';ve worked with the national team to go
onto this division - and we did it!"

The post French Forward Betty Jouanny Is Loaded for Bear appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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