Charge sign 2026 first-round pick Vivian Jungels to one-year deal
The Ottawa Charge announced Wednesday the team has signed 2026 first-round pick Vivian Jungels to a one-year contract.
The 5-foot-7 defender spent four seasons with the University of Wisconsin, where she recorded 19 goals and 56 assists for 75 points in 162 career NCAA games. She helped lead the Badgers to three NCAA National Championships.
“Vivian is a really smooth skater with a hockey IQ that is off the charts,” said Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld in a press release. “She’s a great player that plays the game the right way and who makes the right plays, including a good first pass out of the defensive zone, and we think that she will have an impact right away in this league.”
Jungels, 22, spent the majority of her college career paired with Caroline Harvey, who was selected by the Vancouver Goldeneyes with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Jungels finished her four-year stint at Wisconsin with a plus-minus rating of plus-218, which set a new school record.
“I’m incredibly excited to begin my professional career with the Ottawa Charge and have the opportunity to play at this level,” Jungels said in the team statement. “I can’t wait to get to Ottawa, step into the locker room and start building relationships with my teammates and the community. I’m looking forward to learning, competing and being part of this special group.”
Last May, Daily Faceoff PWHL analyst Tyler Kuehl ranked Jungels No. 14 in his top-25 PWHL Draft prospects.
“In today’s game, people love to praise the high-scoring defenders, almost forgetting what the title of their position actually is. Vivian Jungels is one of those players who reminds us what a rearguard is supposed to do,” Kuehl wrote.
“Playing on a pair with Harvey for long stretches of the past couple of years, the Edina native is one of the top stay-at-home defensive prospects. She’s excellent at stopping the rush while being a solid puck-mover out of her own zone.”
The Charge finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 9-8-1-12 record and 44 points, fourth in the PWHL standings. They eliminated the Boston Fleet in the first round of the Walter Cup Playoffs, but lost in the Final to the Montreal Victoire.
PWHL training camps will open Nov. 18 after the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark is completed. Teams will then compete in two scrimmages between Nov. 22 and 30.