The Showdown: Buglioni vs. Gardiner & Jobst-Smith in PWHL Vancouver’s Inaugural Home Opener
Mark your calendars, On Friday, November 21, 2025, the PWHL is officially coming home. Forget the old rivalries, because a new one is being born when PWHL Vancouver Goldeneyes hosts PWHL Seattle Torrent for a historic inaugural home opener—and three local legends are at the heart of the action! For parents, this is a testament to years of sacrifice and hard work. For teenagers, this is a live-action blueprint for turning a hockey dream into a professional reality. Let’s meet the stars who spent there summers training at West Coast Hockey Prep Camp who are now stepping into the spotlight of the world’s best female hockey leagues, the PWHL!
Launching the PWHL Legacy at Home! Vancouver’s very own ready to shine bright!
The expansion of the PWHL into Vancouver means more than just a new team; it means local talent gets to build a legacy right where they started. Leading the charge for PWHL Vancouver Goldeneyes are two B.C. natives with international pedigree: Jennifer Gardiner and Nina Jobst-Smith.
Jenn Gardiner (F) – The Hometown Hero Clutch Player
- The Scoop: Jenn Gardiner, a Surrey, B.C., native, is exactly the type of star a new franchise needs. A Canadian National Team standout and former Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist, Gardiner proved her pro-readiness by being a top rookie scorer for Montréal in the PWHL’s debut season before signing with her hometown team.
- The Resume: She was a foundational force at Ohio State University, winning two massive NCAA National Championships (2022, 2024), where she recorded a program-record 176 career games. She also captured a Hockey Canada U18 Gold Medal.
- The Connection: Gardiner has deep roots in the B.C. hockey community, serving as an alumni to the Surrey Falcons and Greater Vancouver Comets respective programs. Back in 2016 Jenn attended her first summer with West Coast Hockey Prep Camp as a player and has since never missed a summer. She has since transitioned into a Camp Coach and Ambassador. Her connection, drive and determination has inspired countless young female athletes, she even earned a camp group named in her honor back in 2021—The Gardiner Group!
Nina Jobst-Smith (D) – The Global Defender
- The Scoop: Drafted in the third round by Vancouver in 2025, Nina Jobst-Smith brings world-class defensive shutdown ability to the expansion squad. Originally from North Vancouver, she is ready to anchor the blue line in front of her family and friends.
- The Resume: A captain and star defender for the University of Minnesota-Duluth, she earned All-WCHA Second Team honors in her final NCAA season. Internationally, Jobst-Smith is a veteran of the German Women’s National Team, having represented her country in five IIHF World Championships.
- The Connection: Like Gardiner, Jobst-Smith developed her game at the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp, attending as a player and coach since 2013—showing that the path from local B.C. camp ice to global professional stardom is real.
The Seattle Star: The Rivalry Goes Personal
The inaugural home opener on Nov 21st isn’t just Vancouver vs. Seattle—it’s former teammates and long-time training partners colliding in the “Battle of the West”!
Jenna Buglioni (F) – The Seattle Power Forward
- The Scoop: Jenna Buglioni, Port Moody’s finest, was the first-ever draft pick for PWHL Seattle Torrent (8th overall, 2025). The forward is known for scoring clutch goals and has the offensive firepower to spoil Vancouver’s party.
- The Resume: Buglioni was Jenn Gardiner’s teammate at Ohio State, where they won two NCAA National Championships together. She was also a captain for the Buckeyes and led the NCAA in game-winning goals in her final season. For Hockey Canada, she helped the U18 squad win Gold in 2020.
- The Connection: Buglioni also shares the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp heritage with Gardiner and Jobst-Smith, where they all coached and trained in the summers together. Now, they face off as leaders of the league’s two newest rivals and we couldn’t be more proud to have played a small part in each of their journey’s.
The Takeaway for our West Coast Hockey Prep Camp Athletes and Families!
This game is more than just a hockey game; it’s a celebration of the journey. Every incredible stat—the NCAA titles, the PWHL draft picks, the medals with Hockey Canada and Team Germany—began with the local training and development provided by programs like the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp who provide opportuities for athletes to grow there game in more ways than just on the ice.
This November 21, 2025, watch as the PWHL’s Battle of the West ignites! Will the homegrown heroes Jenn and Nina from the PWHL Vancouver Goldeneyes defend their ice, or will former-teammate-turned-rival Jenna Buglioni and her Seattle Torrent’s steal the show?
