OTTAWA, ON (September 23, 2026) – The Ottawa Charge today announced that defender Vivian Jungels has been signed to a one-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement for the 2026-27 season. Jungels was the first of six players selected by Ottawa in the 2026 PWHL Draft, chosen with the 11th overall pick.
“Vivian is a really smooth skater with a hockey IQ that is off the charts,” said Mike Hirshfeld, Charge General Manager. “She’s a great player that plays the game the right way and who makes the right plays, including a good first pass out of the defensive zone, and we think that she will have an impact right away in this league. She was right at the top of our list, and we’re excited to have her join our team.”
The 22-year-old from Edina, MN, is a three-time NCAA National Champion from the University of Wisconsin. In four collegiate seasons, Jungels collected 75 points (19G, 56A) in 162 career games, including 21 points (4G, 17A) in 39 games in 2025-26. Competing reliably alongside first overall pick Caroline ‘KK’ Harvey on the Badgers blue line, the 5’7” left shot defender amassed an impressive plus-218 differential in her time with the Badgers, an all-time high for the program. She also led the team in shot blocks the past two seasons, totaling 118 in 80 games.
“I’m incredibly excited to begin my professional career with the Ottawa Charge and have the opportunity to play at this level,” said Jungels. “I can’t wait to get to Ottawa, step into the locker room and start building relationships with my teammates and the community. I’m looking forward to learning, competing and being part of this special group.”
In 2022, Jungels received the Ms. Minnesota Hockey Award given to the best female senior high school player in the state. Jungels led Edina High to two State Championships in 2019 and 2021 and totaled 156 points in 101 regular season games across four seasons. Internationally, Jungels represented the U.S. in the Collegiate Series vs. Canada in three straight seasons from 2023-25.
Jungels was one of a record five Wisconsin players selected in the draft’s first round on June 17 and reunites with Sarah Wozniewicz, her former Badgers teammate for three seasons and two national titles. The Charge now have 19 players under contract for the upcoming season, including 16 returnees. Jungels joins a group of defenders that consist of Ronja Savolainen, Jocelyne Larocque, Kathryn Reilly, Emma Greco, Brooke Hobson and Vita Poniatovskaia.
A complete list of player signings and transactions is available on the official PWHL Transactions Page. To see the full overview of the status of PWHL player contracts, visit the PWHL Contract Guide here.