Jessica “Jessie” Eldridge Bio
Jessica “Jessie” Eldridge is a Canadian ice hockey player who is a forward for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and a member of the Canadian national team. Born on December 17, 1997, in Barrie, Ontario, Eldridge had a stellar collegiate career at Colgate University, where she became the program’s all-time leading scorer. She has been recognized for her achievements on the ice, including winning a gold medal at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Off the rink, she is dedicated to mentoring young female hockey players, particularly in her hometown of Barrie.
Early Life and Background
Eldridge was born in Barrie, Ontario, on December 17, 1997. She is the daughter of Duane and Lisa Eldridge and has one brother, Kyle. Her father, Duane, coached her in the Barrie Sharks women’s hockey organization. Growing up in Barrie, Eldridge initially played hockey against boys because there was no girls’ hockey organization at the time. She later played with the Barrie Sharks organization before moving to Toronto to play for the Toronto Junior Aeros. Eldridge served as captain of the Toronto Junior Aeros for the 2014–15 season and earned the 2015 PWHL scoring championship. Eldridge attended The Bishop Strachan School, an all-girls independent school in Toronto, where she was named team MVP in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In 2014, she was selected to attend the Under-18 Canada Strength and Conditioning Camp. Off the ice, Eldridge has been an active mentor and advocate for girls’ hockey, working with the Barrie Sharks organization to support the growth of minor girls’ hockey.
Path to Hockey
Eldridge played four seasons (2015–2019) for the Colgate Raiders, finishing her collegiate career as the program’s all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I competition with 74 goals and 89 assists for 163 points in 153 games. She holds or shares 10 different program records. In her freshman season (2015–16), Eldridge recorded 9 goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 38 games. She scored her first collegiate goal on October 3, 2015, in a 6–0 victory over Robert Morris. As a sophomore in 2016–17, Eldridge emerged as a team leader with 13 goals and a team-leading 24 assists for 37 points in 36 games. She set a program record with four shorthanded goals, including a performance with two shorthanded goals in a 4–1 win over Union. Eldridge was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Conference Third Team and won the Colgate Women’s Hockey Offensive MVP award. During her junior year, Eldridge led the Raiders with 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points in 41 games. She led the nation with eight game-winning goals and recorded her first career hat trick. In the ECAC Hockey playoffs, Eldridge had consecutive three-point performances against Harvard in the semifinals, recording three assists in the first game and her first career hat trick in the second. She then scored the game-winning goal against Cornell in the ECAC semifinal with one second remaining, sending the Raiders to their first ECAC Hockey Championship game. Eldridge was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Month for February 2018 and Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) National Player of the Month for the same period.
Jessica “Jessie” Eldridge Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
After graduating from Colgate University, Eldridge joined the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), formed in May 2019 after the dissolution of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. The PWHPA was established by over 200 players who boycotted existing professional leagues in pursuit of a unified, financially sustainable professional league that would provide salaries, health insurance, and proper infrastructure. From 2019 to 2023, the PWHPA organized a series of exhibition seasons known as the Dream Gap Tour to generate support for women’s professional hockey while working towards the establishment of a new league. Skating for Team Bauer (Montreal), Eldridge participated in the 2021 Secret Cup, the Canadian leg of the PWHPA Dream Gap Tour held in Calgary. On May 28, 2021, she recorded a goal and an assist in a 4–3 victory over Team Scotiabank (Calgary). In the championship game on May 30, 2021, Team Bauer defeated Team Sonnet (Toronto) 4–2, with Eldridge logging a goal and an assist in the title-winning performance. In the 2021–22 PWHPA Dream Gap Tour, Eldridge joined Team Harvey’s and led all skaters in scoring rate with 12 points in six games. During the 2022–23 season, Eldridge played for Team Harvey’s and ranked third in PWHPA scoring with 22 points in 18 games. On February 10, 2023, Eldridge scored two goals and added an assist in a 5–2 victory over Team Scotiabank in Peterborough, Ontario.
Breakthrough (2023–2025)
On September 18, 2023, Eldridge was selected in the third round, 16th overall, by PWHL New York in the 2023 PWHL Draft. She signed a two-year contract with the club in November 2023. In December, following a preseason that saw her lead the league with six points in three games, Eldridge’s contract was upgraded to three years. In the 2023–24 season, Eldridge played all 24 games for New York, recording seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. New York finished in sixth place with a 6–15–3 record and failed to make the playoffs. In the 2024–25 season, rebranded as the New York Sirens, Eldridge played all 30 games and improved her offensive production with nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, finishing as one of the league’s top point producers. On January 4, 2025, she posted her best single-game performance of the season with a goal and two assists for three points against the Toronto Frost. On January 12, 2025, Eldridge scored a controversial overtime winner against the Toronto Sceptres that was later determined to be offside, though the goal stood as the PWHL rules at the time did not include provisions for offside reviews.
Notable Works and Milestones
Eldridge’s signature work includes her collegiate achievements at Colgate University, where she became the program’s all-time leading scorer. She has also been recognized for her contributions to women’s hockey through her mentoring efforts and her participation in the PWHPA.
Jessica “Jessie” Eldridge Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Eldridge has received recognition for her outstanding performance on the ice, including being a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award during her collegiate career.
Jessica “Jessie” Eldridge Awards Won
Eldridge has achieved notable accolades, including a gold medal at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship with the Canadian national team.
Jessica “Jessie” Eldridge Family
Eldridge is the daughter of Duane and Lisa Eldridge and has one brother, Kyle.
Personal Life
In October 2025, Eldridge was inducted into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame. She is actively involved in mentoring young female hockey players in her hometown and regularly works with the Barrie Sharks organization to support minor girls’ hockey.
