PWHL Takeover Tour provides homecoming for Jennifer Gardiner

As the PWHL brings its brand of exciting hockey to numerous markets throughout North America with the Takeover Tour, involving nine games in neutral sites, a stop in Vancouver provided plenty of emotion. As the host city for the 2010 Winter Games, Vancouver introduced a generation of hockey fans to the heroics of Marie-Philip Poulin. Fast forward to 2025, the city welcomed the Montreal Victoire, led by Poulin as team captain, and the Toronto Sceptres.

Among the star rookies suiting up for the Victoire, the opportunity to skate in Vancouver provided a flood of emotion for Jennifer Gardiner. Raised in Surrey, British Columbia, Gardner starred for the Greater Vancouver Comets, enjoying three provincial championships. Having also worn the Maple Leaf on her jersey, winning a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 Women’s Worlds, Gardiner’s hockey resume also includes a pair of NCAA national championships with the Ohio State Buckeyes, where she set a program record with 176 games played.

Selected by the Victoire with the 11^th overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft, Gardiner was among eight Buckeyes belonging to an exceptional draft class. Serendipitously, the Victoire selected another celebrated Buckeyes alum, obtaining blueliner Cayla Barnes.

Fittingly, the season would see many shared milestones between Gardiner and Barnes. Making their pro debut together on home ice, the November 30, 2024 tilt versus the Ottawa Charge saw them add another chapter to their unique dynamic as teammates.

Trailing Ottawa by a 3-2 mark in the third period, Gardiner capitalized on a power play opportunity, placing the puck past Emerance Maschmeyer at the 11:20 mark, enjoying the milestone of her first PWHL goal. Adding to the theme of serendipity, Barnes and fellow rookie Abigail Boreen logged the assists for their first professional points. Followed by Poulin recording the winner in a shootout, Gardiner’s goal proved crucial, forcing overtime.

Additionally, Gardiner reciprocated on Barnes assist five days later. Challenging the New York Sirens, Barnes found the back of the net at the 1:05 mark of the second period for her first goal, scoring on Corinne Schroeder. Coincidentally, Sarah Fillier, the first pick overall of the 2024 Draft also enjoyed the jubilation of her first, ending the game with two in a 4-1 triumph.

The first contest of the Takeover Tour saw Gardiner and Barnes collaborate once again. Gracing the ice at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on January 5, 2025, over 12,500 fans saw the Victoire oppose the Boston Fleet. The rookie duo logged the assists on the first goal of the game, scored by Laura Stacey.

Heading into Vancouver, the contest at Rogers Centre saw another shared glory in the parallel pro hockey sojourn between Gardiner and Barnes. Named to the staring lineup, Gardiner was on a line with Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey while Barnes lined up beside Anna Wilgren on defense.

During the walk-ins, which sees all teams share photos on social media, Gardiner’s outfit captured the imagination of fans and teammates alike. Garbed in a stylish white jacket designed by teammate Mariah Keopple, whose side interest includes her own fashion label, the left sleeve included Gardiner’s number 12 and the Victoire logo near the cuff.

The back of the jacket served as a highly creative canvas. With Rogers Arena emblazoned near the collar, underneath were the logos of four teams that Gardiner starred for, including the Comets and Buckeyes. Along with the image of the Vancouver skyline, the image of a mountain near the bottom of the jacket included the text, “West Coast Best Coast.” Accentuating the theme of fashion involved the fact that both the Victoire and Sceptres donned the popular Molson “See My Name” jerseys, which sees the nameplate placed beneath the numbers.

Worth noting, the feeling of homecoming on this second game of the Takeover Tour also proved impactful for a proud member of the Sceptres roster. Raised in Cranbrook, British Columbia, blueliner Rylind MacKinnon won three Canada West championships and a U Sports bronze medal for the UBC Thunderbirds. Serving as team captain for two seasons, MacKinnon, also an Academic All-Canadian, becomes the first UBC alum to skate in the PWHL. With several of her former T-Birds teammates in attendance, they were part of a capacity crowd numbering 19,038. Representing the highest attendance figure this season, an attendance record was also set for a PWHL neutral site game.

Although Gardiner and MacKinnon did not register any points in a 4-2 Montreal win, a monumental day provided both with a lifetime of memories. Building on the legacy of the 2010 Winter Games, the chance for a pair of BC raised stars to participate in Vancouver’s first-ever PWHL game adds another exciting chapter to the city’s sporting history. Simultaneously becoming role models for a young generation looking to achieve their own hockey dreams one day, the future is one that provides Gardiner with an exciting optimism.

“There aren’t really words to describe this experience. Coming to the West coast in general, let alone playing in Vancouver in my hometown is so surreal. Just doing it with this team is so special. I was looking around at the crowd, and to see the number of all the little girls out there that have dreamed of playing in a professional women’s hockey league their whole life and will get to do it one day is so special. I am very excited for the future of women’s hockey out here.”