Sophie Jaques Bio
Sophie Jaques, born on October 16, 2000, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a Canadian professional ice hockey defender currently playing for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, she shoots right and has built a reputation as one of the top defensemen in the women’s game. Jaques previously played for the Minnesota Frost, where she won two Walter Cup championships, and for PWHL Boston, the club that selected her tenth overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft. She is also a member of the Canadian women’s national ice hockey team and won a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Before turning professional, Jaques starred at Ohio State, where she became the first player in program history to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, the top individual honor in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. Her blend of offensive production, defensive responsibility, and leadership has made her one of the most respected young defensemen in the sport.
Early Life and Background
Sophie Jaques grew up in Toronto, Ontario, where she first developed her love for hockey. She joined the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League and spent three seasons with the program, recording 20 goals and 25 assists in 78 games. Her development with the Aeros gave her a strong foundation in both defensive play and offensive contributions from the blue line.
During her time in Toronto, Jaques helped lead the Aeros to the PWHL Championship and the Provincial Cup in 2016 and again in 2018. These early team successes foreshadowed her future as a winner and set the stage for her move into collegiate hockey. Her junior career demonstrated the kind of consistent production and competitive drive that would later define her at Ohio State and beyond.
Path to Hockey
Jaques committed to Ohio State and joined the Buckeyes for the 2018–19 season, beginning one of the most decorated collegiate careers in program history. As a freshman, she led all Buckeyes rookies in goals, assists, and points, finishing with five goals and 16 assists in 35 games while ranking sixth overall on the team. Her immediate impact signaled that she was ready for the next level of competition.
Over the following seasons, Jaques continued to elevate her game. During her sophomore year in 2019–20, she ranked third in the WCHA in scoring among defensemen and led all defensemen with 131 shots on goal. After a junior season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, she exploded as a senior in 2021–22, setting the Ohio State single-season record for points by a defenseman with 59. That same year, she helped lead the Buckeyes to their first NCAA women’s ice hockey tournament championship and was named a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.
Sophie Jaques Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Sophie Jaques began her collegiate career with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2018 and quickly became one of the team’s most important players. Through her first three seasons, she developed into a two-way defenseman capable of contributing in all situations. By her senior year, she was widely recognized as one of the best defensemen in college hockey.
In 2022–23, Jaques elevated her play even further as a graduate student, recording 24 goals and 24 assists in 39 games. She recorded her first career hat-trick against Bemidji State on February 24, 2023, and was named the WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She finished her Ohio State career as one of the most decorated players in program history.
PWHL Boston Era (2023–2024)
Jaques was selected tenth overall by PWHL Boston in the 2023 PWHL Draft, becoming the first Ohio State player ever drafted into the Professional Women’s Hockey League. She signed with the club on October 27, 2023, and appeared in seven games before being part of a historic league transaction. On February 11, 2024, she was traded to PWHL Minnesota in exchange for Abby Cook and Susanna Tapani in the PWHL’s first-ever trade.
Her transition to the professional ranks came with the unique challenge of switching teams midseason, but Jaques adapted quickly and helped the Frost capture the inaugural Walter Cup in 2023–24.
Minnesota Frost Era (2024–2025)
With the Minnesota Frost, Jaques settled into a leading role on the blue line. During the 2023–24 season, she recorded two goals and eight assists in 15 regular-season games and added two goals and three assists in 10 playoff games, contributing to the Frost’s first Walter Cup championship. The following season, she recorded seven goals and 15 assists in 25 games and tied for the league lead in scoring among defensemen with 22 points.
In the 2025 PWHL playoffs, Jaques recorded two goals and five assists in eight games and tied for second among all skaters with seven points, helping Minnesota win a second consecutive Walter Cup. Following the season, she was named a finalist for PWHL Defender of the Year and was selected to the league’s first all-star team.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Era (2025–Present)
During the PWHL’s expansion to eight teams ahead of the 2025–26 season, Jaques was left unprotected by the Frost and signed a three-year contract with the Vancouver Goldeneyes on June 4, 2025. The move marked a new chapter in her career as she joined one of the league’s newest franchises.
Her arrival in Vancouver gave the Goldeneyes a proven championship-caliber defenseman and a leader capable of anchoring their blue line. Jaques was also named to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, further underscoring her status as one of the top players in the world.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sophie Jaques is known for her elite skating, strong puck-moving ability, and offensive instincts from the blue line. She combines a powerful shot with smart positioning in her own zone, allowing her to log heavy minutes in all situations. Her competitiveness and poise under pressure have made her a trusted defender in both collegiate and professional hockey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments, Jaques set the Ohio State single-season record for points by a defenseman with 59 in 2021–22 and became the first Buckeye to win the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2023. She was also part of the PWHL’s first-ever trade in 2024 and helped the Minnesota Frost win back-to-back Walter Cups in 2024 and 2025. Internationally, she made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics and won a silver medal with Canada.
Sophie Jaques Career Wins
Sophie Jaques has built a strong record of team success across junior, collegiate, professional, and international levels of hockey. From Provincial Cup titles with the Toronto Jr. Aeros to Walter Cup championships with the Minnesota Frost, she has been a consistent winner throughout her career. She has also added an Olympic silver medal to her trophy case with Team Canada in 2026.
PWHL Highlights
In the PWHL, Jaques has won two Walter Cup championships with the Minnesota Frost, in 2024 and 2025. She was also named a finalist for PWHL Defender of the Year following the 2024–25 season and was selected to the league’s first all-star team. Her first PWHL win came as part of the Frost’s championship run during the league’s inaugural 2023–24 season.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Jaques won the Provincial Cup with the Toronto Jr. Aeros in 2016 and 2018 and helped Ohio State capture the 2022 NCAA women’s ice hockey championship. She also earned the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2023, becoming the first Ohio State player to receive the honor and the second defenseman to win it after Angela Ruggiero in 2004.
Sophie Jaques Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Specific details about Sophie Jaques’s family background are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Sophie Jaques maintains a presence on social media, where she shares updates about her hockey career. Public information about her personal relationships is limited.
2025 Season Performance
Sophie Jaques’s 2025 season was defined by her strong play with the Minnesota Frost before her move to the Vancouver Goldeneyes. She recorded seven goals and 15 assists in 25 regular-season games and tied for the league lead in scoring among defensemen with 22 points. Her consistent production helped establish her as one of the top blue-line players in the PWHL.
In the 2025 PWHL playoffs, Jaques was a key contributor for the Frost, recording two goals and five assists in eight games and tying for second among all skaters with seven points as Minnesota won its second consecutive Walter Cup. Following the season, she was named a finalist for PWHL Defender of the Year and was selected to the league’s first all-star team.
Her summer move to the Vancouver Goldeneyes on a three-year contract positioned her as a foundational piece of the new franchise, and her selection to Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster highlighted her continued rise as one of the premier defensemen in the women’s game.
