‘The ultimate goal’: Goldeneyes forward Gardiner striving for Canadian Olympic team

By Canadian Press on January 8, 2026.

VANCOUVER — Jenn Gardiner still remembers the sights and sounds of the Vancouver Olympics.

She wasn’t in the building when Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal for Canada in 2010 or when Marie-Philip Poulin made her Olympic debut, but knowing those moments were happening in her hometown stoked the aspiring athlete’s dream of playing on the same stage one day.

It’s a dream that could come true next month when Canada looks to defend its gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games. The Vancouver Goldeneyes forward is among the players who could be named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the women’s tournament on Friday.

“It’s like every single thing I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl,” Gardiner said of possibly making the team. “The ultimate goal in every single player’s life is to become an Olympian and be named to that roster.”

Friday’s announcement could mark the latest in a long list of achievements for the 24 year old.

Gardiner, from Surrey, B.C., played her collegiate hockey at Ohio State, where she won NCAA national championships in 2022 and 2024.

She’s continued to grow since, said Gabby Rosenthal, Gardiner’s teammate both at Ohio and in Vancouver.

“I think off the ice, she’s just a leader, a loyal friend and somebody who’s always there for you. And then on the ice, obviously, she’s one of the best scorers in the world,” Rosenthal said.

“She has so much skill and I think confidence is key, and I think she’s gaining that confidence and just getting better all the time. I’ve seen her put in so much extra work off the ice, it’s just fantastic.”

Picked by Montreal 11th overall in the 2024 PWHL entry draft, Gardiner spent her rookie season with the Victoire, contributing five goals and 13 assists across 30 regular-season games.

She then signed with the Goldeneyes during an exclusive window for the league’s two new expansion franchises in early June, eager to build a team in her hometown.

The fact that she’s playing professional women’s hockey in Vancouver still hasn’t sunk in, though.

“No, not at all honestly. Well, maybe when I drive to the rink and it’s raining everyday. That’s pretty much it,” she said with a laugh. “But honestly, no. It doesn’t feel real ever. … There’s really just no feeling to describe it, looking up and seeing Vancouver Goldeneyes (logo) and knowing that I get to wear this jersey every day. It’s so special.”

Ten games into their first season, the Goldeneyes sit second last in the eight-team league with three regulation wins, one overtime win, one loss and five regulation losses.

The team has struggled to score, but Gardiner has two goals and three assists.

“At the end of the day, every single player wants to be contributing as much as they can and producing and scoring goals. And obviously we haven’t had as much offence as our team would have liked,” she said.

“I think I’ve found other ways to try to bring out other styles of my game and just continue to bury down and be gritty on pucks and doing what I can to find my linemates in the right spots.”

The forward’s play has impressed head coach Brian Idalski.

“(Gardiner) has been really good this year,” he said. “It’s difficult for a younger player who’s trying to get into the Olympics to manage that and those emotions and those feelings while still performing at a high level. But I think she’s done a pretty good job of managing that.”

Her teammates, too, appreciate the way Gardiner plays — and prepares.

“You have to, like, claw her off the ice. She’ll practice for hours and hours. So that says a lot about her,” said goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.

“She just loves the game, wants to grow it. And she’s obviously incredibly skilled, a fast player. It’s pretty incredible just to know that she’s so young in this league. So I’m excited to see where her career goes.”

Gardiner’s already had a taste of playing with the national team, donning the Maple Leaf at the World Championships last year where Canada won silver.

She was also part of the Canadian contingent that lost four straight Rivalry Series games to the U.S. this fall.

What’s impressed Gardiner about the national program is the professionalism and knowledge the staff and other players bring.

“I think you leave every single event gaining so much out of it. I’m just grateful for every camp, every Rivalry Series game, every Zoom call,” she said. “Seriously, there’s just so much knowledge to be had. And as a hockey player, we’re kind of like sponges. We’re always trying to learn things.”

For the self-proclaimed hockey nerd, those lessons are a treat.

“That’s my toxic trait,” Gardiner said, grinning. “I always have a game on. I’m always kind of following along with the stats that most people probably don’t care about. I find it fun. … I feel like it’s hard to find people who love the game as much as I do.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press