Goldeneyes Jenn Gardiner ‘shocked’ after missing Canada’s World Championship roster

Canada is heading back to the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championships without some of its most recognizable faces, as head coach Kori Cheverie takes an overhauling approach in her first tournament after taking over from her predecessor, Troy Ryan. 

While the injured Marie Philip-Poulin and Sarah Nurse were expected to miss the tournament, longtime teammate Jenn Gardiner was “shocked” to learn she would not be heading to Denmark this fall. 

Having previously played with Nurse with the Vancouver Goldeneyes and on Poulin’s line with Canada, the 25-year-old didn’t think being excluded from the roster was in the cards. 

“I was in a bit of shock after playing on the Olympic team this past year and on the World Championships team the previous year, in 2025,” Gardiner told the Surrey Now-Leader’s Tom Zillich. “Obviously it’s devastating to be left off this roster. But at the same time, it’s just adding some fuel to my fire for this coming season with the Goldeneyes, moving forward here with Vancouver now.”

While Cheverie will coach the team, new general manager Danièle Sauvageau made the final roster decisions, and the duo opted to select six debutant players, including replacing a British Columbia native in Gardiner with North Vancouver, BC’s Chloe Primerano. 

The decision isn’t because of a lack of hope for Gardiner, though. 

She attended a Hockey Canada training camp in Québec earlier this month and hoped to make the roster, having led the tournament in goalscoring last year with six goals and 10 points in seven games on the way to Canada’s silver medal.  

“It’s just one event, and I really will do anything that I can to get back on that roster for the next (tournament), especially next year with World Championships back in Canada. And then four years down the road is the next Olympic cycle, and I definitely still have a bitter taste in my mouth with the silver medal from this Olympics. So I’d love to have the opportunity to go and chase gold for our country one day.”

Canada is set to open the tournament on Nov. 6 against Sweden, with hopes of lifting the World Championship trophy Nov. 16. Gardiner, however, will focus on the Goldeneyes, who are set to open their second PWHL season on Dec. 5 against the Seattle Torrent at the Pacific Coliseum.