TRURO, N.S. – A young basketball star with Truro connections will compete for Team Canada at an international competition this summer.
Jayda Veinot, whose mom Jennifer (nee Hale) grew up in Truro, was named to the Canadian roster for the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade Games in Naples, Italy, July 3 to 14.
Jayda’s grandparents – Gerry and Vonnie Hale – are Truro residents. Gerry is president of the Truro Bearcats junior A hockey team.
Jayda, from Port Williams, Kings County, played university basketball this past season at Acadia and was named the AUS rookie of the year. She led all AUS first-year players in points, averaging 15 points per game. Jayda was also named an AUS second-team all-star and earned a place on the AUS all-rookie team.
“I’ve dreamed of playing for Canada for as long as I can remember so I’m thrilled to get the chance to represent both Acadia and Canada in Italy this summer,” Jayda said in an interview on the Acadia Athletics website.
Canada will compete in Pool D, which also includes China, Finland and Australia.
Jayda’s mom was also a basketball standout. As a shooting guard, Jennifer led the CEC Cougars to NSSAF titles in 1987 and 1988. Jennifer was also CEC Female Athlete of the Year in 1988, before leading the UNB Varsity Reds to three straight AUS women’s hoops crowns from 1990 to 1992. She was inducted to the CEC Wall of Fame in 2017.
Canada will compete in 12 sports at the Games. The full delegation totals over 300 including student-athletes, coaches, staff, and medical personnel.