Latest news with #JennGardiner
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vancouver's newest pro hockey players pumped for PWHL debut
Sarah Nurse knew Vancouver was primed for professional women's hockey well before the massively successful Take Over Tour hit the ice at Rogers Arena this past January. "The love of the sport was pretty loud," she said, speaking to a gaggle of media assembled at Jack Poole Plaza on Friday. "It really struck me how many people on the street stopped us to say hello, said they were coming to the game, said we can't wait for you guys to be here, we love women's hockey." One of the biggest names in the game and a prolific scorer, Nurse became the face of the new Vancouver Professional Women's Hockey League franchise when she was signed back in June after two stellar seasons with the original six, Toronto Sceptres. Also front and centre for Vancouver is Surrey forward Jenn Gardiner, a finalist for PWHL rookie of the year last season with the Montreal Victoire. One of just two B.C. players on the Vancouver roster — North Vancouver forward Hannah Miller is the other — Gardiner is keenly aware of what it means to be launching pro female hockey in her home province. "Look at our reality. We're playing hockey, our favourite sport, for a living... And that concept can now become a reality for all these younger girls ," said the bubbly Gardiner. "Now, it's not a dream of playing for the Vancouver Canucks with the Sedins like I once had. Now you can dream [about playing] on PWHL Vancouver, which is the most special part." Based on her ear-splitting experience at the Take Over Tour, Gardiner expects local fans to bring the noise to the team's 15 regular-season home games beginning in November at the Pacific Coliseum. "I think we can anticipate that's what every home game is going to be like here in Vancouver," she said. "It's going to be intimidating for any team to walk in and play against that." Seasons ticket sales have been booming, and new blocks of seats opened in the Coliseum's upper bowl, according to team executives. As well, the 200 seats for Saturday's free "meet the players" event sold out in under 12 minutes. Less speedy is the work behind the scenes at the franchise to choose a team name and logo. Tania Richards, director of business operations, told CBC there are ongoing consultations with local First Nations that may come into play. As well, whatever name and images that are chosen have to pass muster on trademark and intellectual property considerations in both Canada and the United States. Meanwhile, upgrades to the Coliseum are well underway, including a new jumbotron and rink boards, improved lighting and sound, and new brine for the ice. New ice-making equipment is going in next door at the Agrodome, where the team will practise. The league is expected to announce the 2025-2026 season schedule in early fall.
National Post
02-08-2025
- Sport
- National Post
'A responsibility, a privilege': Sarah Nurse does her part to grow PWHL in Vancouver
Article content Get used to seeing Sarah Nurse more and more. Article content The expansion PWHL Vancouver club had the Canadian national team veteran forward doing the media rounds Friday, with both individual interviews as well as a press conference with forward Jenn Gardiner and goaltender Kristen Campbell. Article content Article content PWHL Vancouver will begin to play sometime in the fall, and will be based out of the Pacific Coliseum. The now eight-team league — Seattle is coming on board as well — hasn't announced its schedule for its upcoming third season, but this past campaign began on Nov. 30. Article content Nurse was one of PWHL Vancouver's first players, signing on after playing the league's initial two years with the Toronto Sceptres. She will undoubtedly continue to be front and centre in the new club's bid to add to its profile and fan base. Article content She remains one of the more recognizable players in the sport. Her picture has appeared on boxes of Cheerios cereal. She was on the cover of the NHL 23 video game alongside then Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras. Article content She appreciates the promotion piece is part of the gig for her. She's obviously aided by her marketing degree from Wisconsin, and she also has a big-picture view of things as vice-president of the PWHL players union. Article content 'It's a responsibility but it's also a privilege,' Nurse, 30, said over a quick breakfast at the Hard Bean Brunch Co. downtown on Friday. 'I look at it more as we get to share what we love and what we're doing and it's not necessarily just for us. It's for us, but it's also for the next generation of women's hockey players. Article content Article content 'That clicked for me a very long time ago. I look at the women who played before me. They were playing for nothing (financially). You see the sacrifices they made and what they accomplished, and now we get a league to play in, we get some media coverage. We have so many more opportunities. Article content 'It really struck me, having people on the street stopping us and saying, 'We're going to the game. We can't wait for you guys to be here. We love women's hockey.'' — #PWHLVancouver forward Sarah Nurse on what has been so exciting about joining the new expansion franchise. — Izzy 🪿 (@izzycheung37) August 1, 2025
CBC
02-08-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Vancouver's newest pro hockey players pumped for PWHL debut
Social Sharing Sarah Nurse knew Vancouver was primed for professional women's hockey well before the massively successful Take Over Tour hit the ice at Rogers Arena this past January. "The love of the sport was pretty loud," she said, speaking to a gaggle of media assembled at Jack Poole Plaza on Friday. "It really struck me how many people on the street stopped us to say hello, said they were coming to the game, said we can't wait for you guys to be here, we love women's hockey." One of the biggest names in the game and a prolific scorer, Nurse became the face of the new Vancouver Professional Women's Hockey League franchise when she was signed back in June after two stellar seasons with the original six, Toronto Sceptres. Also front and centre for Vancouver is Surrey forward Jenn Gardiner, a finalist for PWHL rookie of the year last season with the Montreal Victoire. One of just two B.C. players on the Vancouver roster — North Vancouver forward Hannah Miller is the other — Gardiner is keenly aware of what it means to be launching pro female hockey in her home province. "Look at our reality. We're playing hockey, our favourite sport, for a living... And that concept can now become a reality for all these younger girls ," said the bubbly Gardiner. "Now, it's not a dream of playing for the Vancouver Canucks with the Sedins like I once had. Now you can dream [about playing] on PWHL Vancouver, which is the most special part." Based on her ear-splitting experience at the Take Over Tour, Gardiner expects local fans to bring the noise to the team's 15 regular-season home games beginning in November at the Pacific Coliseum. "I think we can anticipate that's what every home game is going to be like here in Vancouver," she said. "It's going to be intimidating for any team to walk in and play against that." Seasons ticket sales have been booming, and new blocks of seats opened in the Coliseum's upper bowl, according to team executives. As well, the 200 seats for Saturday's free "meet the players" event sold out in under 12 minutes. Less speedy is the work behind the scenes at the franchise to choose a team name and logo. Tania Richards, director of business operations, told CBC there are ongoing consultations with local First Nations that may come into play. As well, whatever name and images that are chosen have to pass muster on trademark and intellectual property considerations in both Canada and the United States. Meanwhile, upgrades to the Coliseum are well underway, including a new jumbotron and rink boards, improved lighting and sound, and new brine for the ice. New ice-making equipment is going in next door at the Agrodome, where the team will practise. The league is expected to announce the 2025-2026 season schedule in early fall.
Toronto Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
PWHL expansion full of 'bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
Jenn Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. Published Jun 06, 2025 • Last updated 3 days ago • 4 minute read CP-Web. Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (38) makes a save against Toronto Sceptres' Sarah Nurse (20) during second period PWHL hockey action, in Toronto on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Photo by Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.– was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' Read More Toronto Blue Jays Olympics Columnists Ontario Canada
CBC
07-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Get to know Sarah Nurse, one of the PWHL stars joining Vancouver's new team this fall
Vancouver's inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League team has already signed some big names: this week, the team signed Surrey's Jenn Gardiner, all-star defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, goalie Emerance Maschmeyer and all-around hockey legend Sarah Nurse. Nurse has two Olympic medals under her belt: a silver in 2018 and a gold from the 2020 Tokyo Games. She's been with the Toronto Sceptres since the PWHL launched in 2023, as one of the team's first three signings. During the inaugural season, she tied for second in league scoring with 23 points in 24 games and was voted a Second Team All-Star. Vancouverites saw her play this past season at the sold-out PWHL game at Rogers Arena in January, where the Montreal Victoire beat the Sceptres 4-2. This week, she signed a one-year contract with PWHL Vancouver. "It's like a whirlwind," she said. "I am so excited to be able to play professional hockey in Vancouver. I think it's really the opportunity of a lifetime, and being here in January, I saw the passion, I saw the zest, I saw the excitement for women's hockey. If the fans could show up for a Toronto and Montreal team, I can't even imagine how amazing it's gonna be for their own hometown team." Nurse joined Amy Bell on CBC's On The Coast for an interview following the announcement. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Did this move to Vancouver come as a surprise for you? A little bit. With the expansion draft and the rules and how everything was going to shake out, I knew it was a possibility that I would be left unprotected by Toronto. I knew that if I went to an expansion team, Vancouver was my target. After talking to Cara Gardner Morey from Vancouver, I couldn't be more excited because I just know that it's the right fit for me. What has playing for the Sceptres been like? I think from day one, when this league started, I was blown away by the support everywhere. Toronto embraced us with everything that they have. We were the first professional women's sports team in Toronto. Now, we've been joined by the NSL soccer team and also the WNBA team that's coming. There's so many hockey fans, there's so many young hockey players who are coming up within the Greater Toronto Area. They're absolutely incredible, and I'm so grateful for their support. How important was it for a new Vancouver team to sign a high-profile name like yours? I was obviously very honoured to be in consideration to be brought to Vancouver. I take a lot of pride in what I do off of the ice and my impact in the community on the fans and the supporters. But I think, ultimately, my biggest goal is to make a splash and make an impact on the ice. I want to be the best possible player that I can be for this organization and really put my best foot forward because I know that I have a lot of skills and abilities that I think are going to be great on this team. What kind of role do you think you're going to be able to play with this new team? I have very high expectations of myself. I definitely want to be a leader on and off of the ice. I think with the other girls and Sophie and Claire, they're pretty locked down on the back end. They're two very, very world-class defencemen. And then Emerance in net, an absolute brick wall. I think she's been probably the best goalie in the PWHL for the last two years. Jenn Gardiner, who's young, new, fresh talent who has so much potential, and it's going to be great to see her blossom and grow. You battled a long-term injury this past season. How are you feeling as you get prepared to hit the ice in Vancouver this fall? I'm feeling so optimistic. I'm excited to have some time to actually fully rehab my knee and be able to be the absolute best that I can be when November comes. I'm excited to put in the work. I think I'm going to get on the ice next week, which I'm actually itching to do, especially with the news and signing in Vancouver. I want the season to start now. Off the ice, your contributions are just as huge. You hosted Nursey Nights in Toronto to provide community groups tickets to the Sceptre games. You helped found the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association and are also a part of the PWHL players' union. And you're an advocate against racism in hockey. What do you hope to continue here in Vancouver? All of the above. I really have a passion for making this sport as inclusive as possible and making sure that our sport represents the fabric of our nation. I think that we are such a diverse, multicultural society, and I think that our experiences should really reflect that in our game. I'm so encouraged to come to Vancouver and continue the work. I'm excited to bring Nursey Nights to Vancouver. We've been able, we brought 200 girls over this last year into Toronto Sceptres games, and so I'm looking to do something very similar in Vancouver. I think there's so many great community initiatives that our team can be a part of, and that's something that's a passion for all of us. Your cousin, Darnell Nurse, plays for the Edmonton Oilers, who are currently battling it out for the Stanley Cup. How exciting is it to see him and the Oilers in the finals again? I could not be more proud of that boy. He has gone through so much, that team has gone through so much and honestly, they are absolutely rolling right now. So I'm very hopeful and I know they're going to have a different result than they had last year. They've been on the stage. They know how big it is, and they've been absolutely rolling. So I'm so proud of him.
