2025-26 PWHL team preview: Vancouver Goldeneyes
Within 11 months, Vancouver hockey fans will have gone from flocking to a record-breaking crowd at the PWHL Takeover Tour to cheering on their very own Vancouver Goldeneyes as one of the first two expansion teams in league history.
While many longtime PWHL fans quibbled with the processes that allowed Vancouver and the Seattle Torrent to build their roster, the new fans on the West Coast can be nothing but pleased. Instantly, they have a Walter Cup contender.
A force formed in flight.
We are the Vancouver Goldeneyes. pic.twitter.com/NQQVcck0kO
Built by general manager Cara Gardner Morey, the Goldeneyes’ core sees Team Canada’s Emerance Maschmeyer in the crease, while her international teammate Sarah Nurse leads the forwards. On the blueline, they nabbed the Minnesota Frost’s top pairing of Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson, who were vital to their 2025 Walter Cup.
Now, as the first PWHL team to be a primary tenant in a building, they hope to live up to the expectations set by the talent on the roster.
Check out the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft results
QUICK FACTS
- Arena: Pacific Coliseum
- Arena Capacity: 16,200
- Practice Facility: PNE Agrodome
- Head Coach: Brian Idalski
- General Manager: Cara Gardner Morey
- Captain: TBD
OFFENSE
It was clear from Day 1 that the Goldeneyes were aiming to be one of the league’s best teams.
With a world-class city and the ability to present a permanent tenancy in their building, they instantly became one of the most enticing markets to several of the best forwards in the PWHL.
Through various roster-building mechanisms, they secured star forwards Hanah Miller and Sarah Nurse from the Toronto Sceptres, as well as Jenn Gardiner from the Montréal Victoire, all of whom also played in the Vancouver PWHL Takeover Tour game last season.
Additionally, they signed Brooke McQuigge, Abby Boreen, Izzy Daniel, Gabby Rosenthal, Denisa Krizova, and Tereza Vanisova, quickly forming one of the league’s best forward groups.
They even bolstered with a proven, veteran presence in the entry draft, selecting 35-year-old Michelle Karvinen, who has spent her entire professional career in Europe and brings 11 medals from representing Finland at World Championships and Olympic Games.
Miller had 10 goals and 24 points in 29 games last season with the Sceptres, and began the process of changing her allegiance from Team China back to Canada to represent the Canadian national women’s team. Meanwhile, Vanisova finished second in PWHL goalscoring with 15 goals and 22 points in 30 games.
While those two may drive the offense, Nurse will play a key role as well. She had six goals and 14 points in 21 games last season in Toronto and remains a fixture on Team Canada and in the broader hockey space.
Through the preseason, head coach Brian Idalski opted for a top line of McQuigge and Micaela Cava flanking Nurse, with Miller centring a potent second line alongside Vanisova and former New York Siren, Izzy Daniel.
While none of the projected top forwards found the back of the net in the two preseason games against the Seattle Torrent, Vancouver could be in position to lead the PWHL in most offensive categories in 2025-26.
DEFENSE
As much as Vancouver focused on building their elite forward group, it didn’t take any shortcuts when it came to the blueline, ensuring that it signed some of the league’s best defenders, including ones with previously established chemistry.
Fresh off the 2025 Walter Cup title with the Minneota Frost, both Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson made their way to the West Coast, and the two PWHL Defender of the Year finalists paired up in preseason action.
Last season, Jacques posted seven goals and 22 points from the blueline, with Thompson not far behind with four goals and 18 points. Each was also among Minnesota’s ice time leaders, both skating over 22:00 per night on average.
Outside of their top pairing, the Goldeneyes turn to Melissa Channell-Watkins, Ashton Bell, Emma Greco, and Sydney Bard, who all bring PWHL experience to the group. Additionally, Nina Jobst-Smith, the club’s third-round draft pick, could carve out a role after a standout NCAA career with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
GOALIES
Stacked up front and on the blueline, the Goldeneyes also signed some of the best goalies from the first two seasons of the PWHL.
Team Canada’s Emerance Maschmeyer will be the team’s starting netminder after posting a .915 save percentage with the Ottawa Charge last season. Meanwhile, former Toronto Sceptre and Canadian goalie Kristen Campbell serves as a genuine ‘1B’ option in what could be the league’s best tandem.
After a strong 2024 season in Ottawa, Maschmeyer, 31, held up her form through the first parts of the 2024-25 season, before suffering a season-ending injury on March 11. Her injury opened the door for Charge rookie Gwyneth Philips, who led the team to the Walter Cup finals, and made Maschmeyer somewhat expendable.
The Bruderheim, Alberta native brings eight World Championship medals and Beijing 2022 Olympic gold to the team, and will look to rebuild her consistency as one of the best backstops in women’s hockey.
Campbell, meanwhile, has had her ups and downs with the Sceptres. After winning the 2024 PWHL Goaltender of the Year, her save percentage dropped from .927 in 2024 to .910 in 2024-25, and Toronto head coach Troy Ryan opted not to play her in a playoff game.
With third goalies potentially playing a critical role as well, Vancouver is expected to sign one of their preseason invitees, either 30-year-old former Team China goaltender Kimberly Newell or former U SPORTS standout with the University of Toronto, Erica Fryer.
ROOKIES
Vancouver will look to some of its younger players and rookies this season, but has built an experienced roster set to win right out of the gate. With that mentality in roster building, the team does not have as many first-year players as one may expect for an expansion franchise.
At the same time, where would a player such as Karvinene fit in, considering the extent of her professional career, despite being selected in the league’s entry draft? The Finnish veteran aside, keep an eye on Jobst-Smith, Brianna Brooks and Madison Samoskevich.
Jobst-Smith, who hails from Vancouver but represents Germany internationally, had three goals and 18 points as a defender in the WCHA last season and has competed at five World Championships. Meanwhile, Brooks joins Vancouver as a fourth-round pick from Penn State, and Samoskevich was Vancouver’s fifth-round pick out of Quinnipiac.
COACHING
Vancouver has plenty of experience when it comes to their general manager and coaching roles. Cara Gardner Morey, the GM, spent 14 years with Princeton University’s women’s hockey program, eight of those as the team’s head coach.
Focused on building the entire roster, she hired experienced NCAA bench boss Brian Idalski, who comes over after three seasons as the head coach at St. Cloud State, also in the NCAA. Prior to his latest role, he was the head coach at the University of North Dakota from 2007 to 2017, before the athletics department shuttered the women’s hockey program.
Outside of the NCAA, he has professional experience in China, where he coached the KRS Vanke Rays from 2019 to 2022, crossing paths with Miller and Karvinen ahead of the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
PREDICTION
It’s never easy to predict an expansion team in any sport, but this Vancouver Goldeneyes team is absolutely stacked, to say the least. From the facilities to the roster building, every aspect of their first season is focused on winning, and they certainly have the roster pedigree to do so.
It might be bold, but I’ll say second in the PWHL this season. Oh, and they’ll win the Walter Cup.