Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Jenn Gardiner growing after wild year

Surrey - For Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Jenn Gardiner, 2025 has been a year of growth and discovery. Though she still struggles to fully comprehend her Olympic dream coming true, the 24-year-old has found solace in the memories she made during the 2024 Winter Games in Milan. "Just being there is so surreal," Gardiner said. "You think of the Olympics as just this crazy experience of everything, and it totally was.

But at the same time, I feel like our nerves calm down because we’re just playing hockey. Like, at the end of the day, it’s just the game that we all have grown up playing."

Since that silver-medal-filled moment, Gardiner has used the off-season to focus on her community and the sport she loves. She spent much of her summer in rinks across Metro Vancouver, not only training but also coaching and mentoring young hockey stars. Her community involvement has earned her admiration, as Goldeneyes captain Ashton Bell noted, "She’s such a role model for them here. You can see it here in the rink today, just how excited girls are when they see Jenn Gardiner show up."

Gardiner’s passion for hockey led her to leave Ohio State in 2019, moving to Vancouver. Over the next five years, she amassed 71 goals and 100 assists in 176 career games. In 2023, she was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award and was named team captain the following season. In 2024, she was selected 11th overall in the PWHL draft by the Montreal Victoire. This year, she signed with the Vancouver-based Goldeneyes expansion team, eager to bring hockey excitement to her hometown.

Despite her rookie season’s ups and downs, Gardiner is determined to improve her game and secure a spot on the Olympic team. After her initial week off the ice, she returned to training, fueled by her desire to be the best PWHL player and Olympic athlete she can be. She finished the 2025-26 season with nine goals and 10 assists, second on the Goldeneyes in scoring.

Her coach, Cara Gardner Morey, noted the importance of her role in the team, stating, "I think that when she was in Montreal playing with (Marie-Philip) Poulin, there was a lot of points put up. And then when she’s on the national team, it’s more of a defensive role. So, I think for Jenn, it’s figuring out how she fits in our (system) and what role that is. And it’s kind of a combo of both, right?"