Vancouver Goldeneyes 2025-26 Season Preview

The arrival of the Vancouver Goldeneyes marks a new era for women’s professional hockey on Canada’s West Coast. Built on speed, skill and balance, the team is already shaping its identity.

General Manager Cara Gardner Morey and Head Coach Brian Idalski entered the offseason with a shared philosophy: build a roster that can win now and grow for the future. In doing so, they blended international experience, proven veterans, and emerging local talent, a mix ready to compete from opening night.

“When you talk about identity, the players have to be involved in that process,” said Idalski. “You have to work with them to create it. Obviously, all coaches would love their teams to play fast, be resilient, and be super hard-working and gritty, and those will be things we aspire to.”

The team announced its intentions to be competitive from day one with a flurry of signings at the outset of the June signing window; defenders Claire Thompson, Sophie Jaques, goalkeeper Emerance Maschmeyer and forwards Jenn Gardiner and Sarah Nurse are all amongst the top players at their positions in the whole league and by the close of business on June 5, they were all on Vancouver’s roster.

Veterans to Watch: All those early signings!

After sitting out the inaugural PWHL season to focus on being a full-time medical student, Thompson entered the 2024 draft, got selected third overall by Minnesota, and played like she had never left. The Olympic gold medalist is one of the premier two-way defenders in the sport, capable of shutting down top forwards while quarterbacking play from the blue line. Expect her to log top-pair minutes, lead the penalty kill, and mentor younger defenders adjusting to the pro pace.

Thompson’s fellow champion and Defender of the Year finalist with the Frost, Jaques, is a 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award winner and one of the most dynamic defenders in women’s hockey. Known for her powerful shot and smooth puck movement, she was a key piece of Minnesota’s back-to-back Walter Cups and now brings championship experience to Vancouver. Her offensive instincts and two-way reliability fit perfectly with the team’s up-tempo style.

One of the sport’s most recognizable athletes, Nurse joins Vancouver as both a leader and cornerstone. Coming off a productive season in Toronto with 14 points (6G, 8A) in 21 games, she brings pace, poise, and the ability to perform in high-pressure moments. Her community connection aligns perfectly with Vancouver’s vision of inspiring the next generation. Expect her to drive offence, anchor the power play, and lead from the front.

Another Goldeneye who will be impossible to miss is Surrey-born forward Jenn Gardiner, a former Ohio State standout who made a smooth transition to the pro game last season with her blend of hockey sense, grit, and two-way responsibility. Her adaptability makes her invaluable, she can anchor a secondary scoring line, play the penalty kill, or slide up when needed. Extremely vocal about how happy she is to be on a team in her native lower mainland, Gardiner is a player fans will rally around.

Rookie to Watch: Michelle Karvinen

Vancouver’s ambition carried into the 2025 PWHL Draft, in which the team selected Olympian Michelle Karvinen seventh overall.

“Michelle will plug and play right away,” said Idalski. “She’s a natural-born leader and has always been talented. She understands what this opportunity means for her and her legacy.”

Calling Karvinen a “rookie” feels almost misleading. The 35-year-old Finnish National Team icon brings more than a decade of international and professional experience to Vancouver.

Known for her vision and composure with the puck, the skilled forward can dictate tempo and unlock defences with ease. Expect her to play key minutes on the power play alongside top-tier linemates like Nurse and Gardiner, where her creativity will complement their speed and finishing.

Coaching/leadership

Idalski comes to Vancouver with more than two decades of high-level women’s hockey experience, including leading China’s National Team at the 2022 Olympics and collegiate success at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, North Dakota, and, most recently, at St. Cloud State. He’s known for his steady, accountable approach.

“Cara deserves the credit for putting the roster together,” Idalski said. “She’s really laid the groundwork for the organization in regards to our culture: athletic defence first, great goaltending, and great human beings. You could feel it right away at the draft.”

Working alongside Gardner Morey, who developed elite talent while running the women’s program at Princeton, the pair have built a roster that mirrors their philosophy: composed, skilled and competitive in all three zones.

While the Goldeneyes have not named a captain yet, the roster is filled with mature leaders who could handle the role.

Between the Pipes: Emerance Maschmeyer and Kristen Campbell

Few expansion teams can boast a goaltending tandem as strong as Maschmeyer and Campbell.

Maschmeyer, one of Canada’s most trusted netminders, comes off two strong seasons with Ottawa, where she recorded a .914 save percentage for the defensive-minded Charge.

Sharing the crease is Campbell, the 2024 PWHL Goaltender of the Year with Toronto. That season she led the league with 16 wins and three shutouts, posting a .927 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average.

“We’re very fortunate to have two quality people who are awesome goaltenders,” said Idalski. “With our schedule and travel, both goalies are going to play, it’s a luxury.”

Together they form a rare 1A–1B tandem, giving Vancouver elite goaltending from day one.

Season Outlook

For the city and its fans, the wait is over. The Goldeneyes’ arrival is more than an expansion team; it’s a declaration that elite women’s hockey belongs on Canada’s West Coast. With Olympic gold medalists, international icons, and hometown heroes, this is an organization built for both immediate success and long-term impact.

Vancouver enters its first PWHL season with high expectations and the personnel to meet them. Nurse’s leadership, Karvinen’s creativity, Thompson’s stability, and Jaques’s two-way strength give the team balance across all zones. Add in elite goaltending, and Vancouver has every chance to contend for a Walter Cup in year one.

Fittingly, the team will play its home games at Pacific Coliseum, a building rich with hockey history. Once home to the Vancouver Canucks’ 1994 Stanley Cup run, the Coliseum now hosts a new chapter led by women inspiring the next generation.

“I hope fans find that we’re a hardworking team that gives an honest effort day in and day out, consistent, fun to watch, and competitive all over the ice,” Idalski said.