The anticipation is palpable for Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Jenn Gardiner, as the official announcement of Canada's women's hockey roster for the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games looms this Friday. The 26-year-old Surrey native admits the final stretch of waiting has been a restless experience.
The Nerve-Wracking Wait for an Olympic Dream
"This week it's especially hard to sleep at night," Gardiner confessed following a Goldeneyes practice at the PNE Agrodome. She is trying to focus on controlling what she can, acknowledging that the final decision now rests with Hockey Canada's selection committee. "It's out of my control and very nerve wracking obviously but it would be a dream come true to be named to that team," she said, reflecting on a lifetime of work that has brought her to this moment.
Gardiner's journey to this Olympic precipice has been marked by steady progression. She first earned an invitation to the senior national team summer showcase in 2021 and made her world championship debut last spring in the Czech Republic. There, she made a significant statement, leading the entire tournament in goal scoring with six goals in seven games, though Canada ultimately fell 4-3 in overtime to the United States in the gold medal game.
Building a Case for the Olympic Roster
Named to the 30-player national team training roster last August, Gardiner has continued to build her resume. She participated in the Rivalry Series against the Americans, contributing one goal in four games. Her professional stock rose significantly following a standout 2024-25 PWHL season with the Montreal Victoire, where her five goals and 18 points in 30 games made her a finalist for rookie of the year. This performance led to her celebrated signing by the expansion Goldeneyes this past summer, where she has recorded two goals and five points in her first 10 games.
A potentially crucial factor in her selection is her established chemistry with Canadian stalwarts Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey. Gardiner played on Canada's top line with them at the world championships and was frequently their linemate in Montreal. "They're the type of players who bring out the best in every single person they're with," Gardiner noted, highlighting the intangible benefit of that existing synergy.
Goldeneyes' Olympic Connections and Roster Questions
Gardiner is one of six Vancouver Goldeneyes initially named to Canada's extended roster, a group that includes goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, and forwards Sarah Nurse and Hannah Miller. Nurse's situation presents an intriguing subplot for selectors. A veteran of two Olympics and six world championships, who set Olympic records for points (18) and assists (13) at Beijing 2022, Nurse has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since the Goldeneyes' season opener on November 21. Coach Brian Idalski's recent updates have indicated her status is still being evaluated, leaving open the question of whether Canada will hold a roster spot for the proven performer with the first Olympic game set for February 5.
The Goldeneyes will already be well-represented in Italy. Forward Tereza Vanisova (Czechia), forward Michelle Karvinen (Finland), and defender Nina Jobst-Smith (Germany) have already been named to their respective national teams. For Jobst-Smith, a North Vancouver native with a German passport, this marks Germany's first Olympic appearance in women's hockey since 2014. The 24-year-old plans to lean on the experience of Karvinen, who will be competing in her fifth Olympics. "She's obviously a seasoned vet, so I'll be asking her plenty of questions," Jobst-Smith said.
The Olympic schedule sets up some fascinating PWHL teammate matchups. Canada faces Czechia on February 9, pitting Gardiner and others against Vanisova. Their tournament opens on February 5 against Karvinen and Finland. "It's always strange to play against someone you know," admitted Vanisova, a Beijing 2022 Olympian. "It's weird, but you just go forward."
For Gardiner and the Goldeneyes, the focus now is on the immediate future. Vancouver sits seventh in the eight-team PWHL but is just three points out of a playoff spot. They play their final game before the Olympic break on January 28 in Minnesota and won't resume their season until hosting Toronto on March 1. "It will be like a clean slate for every team in the PWHL," Gardiner observed, anticipating a energized league return in March. But first, she hopes her personal slate will include the words 'Olympian' next to her name.
