GARDINER'S GRIND TO TEAM CANADA

Taking the U18 AAA route allowed Jennifer Gardiner to become the first BC Hockey player to advance through - what is now known as the British Columbia Elite Hockey League - to Canada’s Women’s World Hockey Championship team.

The path, which also took her through the NCAA at The Ohio State University, has led the 23-year-old to her ultimate goal.

“There was no PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) when I was a girl, so the only dream was college and Team Canada, so this is a huge accomplishment,” admitted Gardiner, who also toils with the Montreal Victoire of the PWHL.

Gardiner came up through Cloverdale Minor Hockey Assosiation, before joining the Surrey Female Hockey Association and eventually landing with the Greater Vancouver Comets in the Female U18 AAA league, where she was part of three provincial championships.

“At Pee Wee (U13), I switched over to the Surrey Falcons and that’s where my female career started. That’s where I met most of my best friends and they were a big supporter of me throughout my career,” Gardiner explained of her younger years.

“After that was the Greater Vancouver Comets of the BC Major Midget League. Head coach Mark Taylor - I owe a lot to him. He was a big reason for anything I ever accomplished in my career and we’re still in touch to this day and he’s a huge supporter of my career.

“I think in terms of getting to play, it was a good team in those days and getting to play under Mark – he was one of the best coaches I ever had. Skills and system based; I owe a ton of credit to him,” added Gardiner.

“We went to a lot of big tournaments that got our team recognized in showcases across Canada. Just getting to play in that organization exposed me, as well as a lot of other players, to different university coaches and organizations that led to my first dream coming true, playing for U18 Team Canada and Team BC. It all started with the Comets.”

Gardiner will forever remember those three provincial championships with the Comets and she still remains in touch with Mel Jue, their coach.

“We talk quite a bit and I skated with them this summer for fun. I’m still a proud Comet alumni and that will never change,” she said, still proudly following the team’s success, including this past season where the Comets added yet another title with a solid 28-2-2-0 campaign.

Her U18 AAA experience led Gardiner to The Ohio State where she won two NCAA titles, in 2022 and 2024. She was captain of the 2024 team and set a Buckeyes program record by playing in 176 career games. She totalled 71 goals and 100 assists in her college career, after three years with the Comets.

“I’m grateful to have landed (at Ohio State) and play under coach Nadine Muzerall. She was a trailblazer for my career and helped me accomplish some things I didn’t think I could. It’s a credit to her. It became family and I wouldn’t be where I am today without Ohio State, as well,” said Gardiner.

“The sacrifices you make along the way, to going for six months and being rewarded with a national championship - it paid off. It was worth it,” added Gardiner, who would love nothing more than to add a World Women’s Hockey Championship title to her resume.

“That would be pretty cool. Every player and staff member has that in mind and doesn’t want to come home with anything else. It (a gold medal) would be pretty special.”

Mario Annicchiarico is a freelance writer based in Victoria who has previously covered the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, as well as the Western Hockey League.