Jennifer Gardiner Bio
Jennifer Gardiner (born September 18, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A skilled playmaker with a left shot, she previously played for the Montreal Victoire after being selected 11th overall by PWHL Montreal in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She played college ice hockey at Ohio State, where she helped deliver two national championships to the Buckeyes program. Internationally, Gardiner represents Canada and was named to the Canadian roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Early Life and Background
Jennifer Gardiner was born on September 18, 2001, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, to Tom Gardiner and Diane Gardiner. She grew up alongside her brother, Brad, in a supportive family environment that encouraged her athletic development. Standing 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) tall, Gardiner developed her game on the rinks of the Lower Mainland before moving on to higher levels of competition.
She attended Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School, where she continued to refine her hockey skills while balancing her studies. During her high school years, Gardiner suited up for the Greater Vancouver Comets of the BC Elite Hockey League, suiting up for three seasons and producing 90 goals and 91 assists in 92 games. Her dominance in the league was clear, as she led the league in scoring in each of her three seasons and earned FMAAA all-star honors three times while winning three Provincial Championships.
Path to Professional Hockey
Gardiner’s prolific production in British Columbia earned her a roster spot with the Ohio State Buckeyes, where she began her collegiate career during the 2019–20 season. As a freshman, she posted nine goals and six assists in 38 games, immediately establishing herself as a contributor at the NCAA level. In her sophomore year, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, she recorded a team-high eight goals and seven assists in 20 games, demonstrating her consistency even in a compressed schedule.
Her junior and senior years marked her emergence as one of the top players in college hockey. During the 2021–22 season, she recorded 15 goals and 24 assists in 38 games and scored the game-winning goal against Yale in the Frozen Four to help Ohio State capture its first national championship. As a senior in 2022–23, she led the team with 57 points on 21 goals and 36 assists in 41 games and was named to the All-WCHA First Team. Returning for a graduate season in 2023–24, she added 18 goals and 27 assists and helped Ohio State claim a second national title, finishing her career with 71 goals, 100 assists, and a program-record 176 games played.
Jennifer Gardiner Career
Early Career (2019–2024)
Jennifer Gardiner spent her early competitive years developing her game with the Greater Vancouver Comets before transitioning to the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2019. Across her five collegiate seasons, she compiled 71 goals and 100 assists in 176 games, becoming only the third Buckeyes player in program history to reach the 100-assist milestone. She also played a central role in two NCAA national championships in 2022 and 2024, building a reputation as a clutch performer in high-stakes games.
Montreal Victoire Era (2024–2025)
On June 10, 2024, Jennifer Gardiner was drafted in the second round, 11th overall, by PWHL Montreal in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Victoire on July 16, 2024, and quickly earned a regular role in her rookie professional season. During the 2024–25 PWHL campaign, she produced five goals and 13 assists in 30 regular-season games and added three assists in four playoff contests.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Era (2025–Present)
When the PWHL expanded to eight teams ahead of the 2025–26 season, Jennifer Gardiner was left unprotected by the Victoire and signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Goldeneyes on June 5, 2025. The move marked a fresh chapter for the young forward, giving her a leading role on an expansion franchise. Her impact was immediate, as she became the first player in PWHL history to score four goals in a single game on April 18, 2026, against the Seattle Torrent, including the overtime game winner.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jennifer Gardiner is recognized as a creative, playmaking forward with a left shot who excels as both a scorer and a distributor. Her vision and passing touch have translated seamlessly from college hockey to the professional ranks, and her ability to perform in clutch moments was highlighted by her game-winning goal against Yale in the 2022 Frozen Four and her overtime winner in her four-goal PWHL performance. Her chemistry with top-line teammates, including her time playing alongside Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, has underscored her value as a connector on the ice.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Jennifer Gardiner’s most significant achievements are her two NCAA national championships with Ohio State in 2022 and 2024, her place in PWHL history as the first player to record four goals in a single game, and her selection to Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympic roster. She also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, where she led the tournament in goals with six.
Jennifer Gardiner Career Wins
Jennifer Gardiner has collected championship hardware at every level of her career to date. Her trophy case includes three Provincial Championships with the Greater Vancouver Comets, two NCAA national championships with the Ohio State Buckeyes, a gold medal with Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, and a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Her four-goal game in April 2026 also stands as a record-setting individual performance in PWHL history.
NCAA and Junior Highlights
Across her five seasons at Ohio State, Jennifer Gardiner amassed 71 goals and 100 assists in a program-record 176 games, ranking among the most productive players in Buckeyes history. Her junior-year game-winning goal against Yale in the 2022 Frozen Four helped deliver Ohio State’s first national championship, and her graduate season in 2023–24 concluded with a second title. She was named to the All-WCHA First Team in 2022–23 and the All-WCHA Third Team in 2023–24, cementing her status as one of the top college players of her era.
Other Wins & Performances
At the junior level, Jennifer Gardiner led the BC Elite Hockey League in scoring in each of her three seasons with the Greater Vancouver Comets, finishing with 90 goals and 91 assists in 92 games and three FMAAA all-star selections. Her international résumé began with a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, and she added a silver medal and a tournament-leading six goals at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in her senior debut.
Jennifer Gardiner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jennifer Gardiner was raised in Surrey, British Columbia, by her parents Tom Gardiner and Diane Gardiner, alongside her brother, Brad. Her family supported her early athletic development in the Lower Mainland, where she sharpened her skills with the Greater Vancouver Comets before moving on to collegiate and professional hockey.
Personal Life
Jennifer Gardiner is a Canadian athlete who has spent much of her young career split between Columbus, Ohio, and the professional women’s hockey circuit in North America. Public details about her personal relationships and family life beyond her parents and brother remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
Jennifer Gardiner opened the 2025–26 PWHL season with the Vancouver Goldeneyes after signing a one-year contract on June 5, 2025, following her departure from the Montreal Victoire. The Goldeneyes, as one of two PWHL expansion franchises that year, gave her an opportunity to anchor a new roster, and she responded with a historic April 18, 2026, performance against the Seattle Torrent, becoming the first player in league history to record four goals in a single game, including the overtime winner. Her strong club form carried into the international stage, where she was named to Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympic roster and scored her first Olympic goal in a 5–0 preliminary-round win over Finland.
Building on a rookie PWHL campaign in 2024–25 that saw her record five goals and 13 assists in 30 regular-season games and three assists in four playoff contests, Gardiner entered 2025 as a rising offensive contributor at both the professional and national-team levels. Her selection to Canada’s Olympic squad on January 9, 2026, and her early Olympic production reinforced her growing role within the senior national team program.