Goldeneyes activate Nina Jobst-Smith from long-term injured reserve

Some reinforcements for one of the PWHL’s newest teams.

On Friday, the Vancouver Goldeneyes announced that defender Nina Jobst-Smith has been activated from long-term injured reserve and is expected to make her season debut on Saturday, when the Goldeneyes take on the Boston Fleet in the first of two Takeover Tour games in Detroit.

In response, the team has placed forward Malia Schneider back to the team’s reserve list.

Jobst-Smith has been out of action dating back to the preseason, thanks to a lower-body injury she suffered prior to the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. The North Vancouver, B.C. native was taken by the Goldeneyes in the third round, 19th overall, of the 2025 PWHL Draft. She was taken in the position originally held by the Toronto Sceptres, but was traded to Vancouver as part of the draft-day deal that sent goaltender Kristen Campbell, along with a pick from Toronto, to the expansion team for a pair of picks.

Jobst-Smith entered the pro ranks after a respectable career at Minnesota Duluth, where she was one of the WCHA’s underrated blueliners. On top of serving as captain during her senior season, she scored 13 goals and 54 assists for 67 points in 172 career games.

The return of the 24-year-old is also a positive sight for the German National Team. Jobst-Smith has been a mainstay for Team Germany since the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship. She has played in each of the past five editions of the Women’s Worlds, helping Germany qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics. NJS is expected to be a key part of the team, hoping to cause a stir in Group B.

Schneider didn’t appear in a game while she was on the Vancouver roster. She had started the season in the SDHL with SDE HF, the team she spent the entire 2024-25 campaign with. In 10 games this year, the Alberta native posted two assists.

The Goldeneyes (2-1-1-5) sit tied for last in the PWHL with the Ottawa Charge, both teams five points back of fourth place.