In their debut season in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Vancouver Goldeneyes are achieving several firsts. Jenn Gardiner scored her first goal as a Goldeneye, a short-handed one, while goalie Emerance Maschmeyer secured the team’s first shutout in a 4-0 victory over the New York Sirens. This season is also the first opportunity for some local Goldeneyes to showcase their skills in front of eager professional hockey fans. Five players on the team hail from British Columbia, with Gardiner originating from Surrey.
Gardiner expressed her delight, stating, “It’s pretty special. There’s a lot of people here so to get on the scoresheet feels good.” Her short-handed goal marked Vancouver’s third goal of the season. Abby Boreen also had a standout performance, recording her first multi-goal game as a Goldeneye with two goals.
The Goldeneyes maintained a perfect 2-0 record at home following three consecutive losses on the road. Head coach Brian Idalski emphasized the importance of the home crowd’s support for the team’s success. Maschmeyer, who stopped all 28 shots from New York, acknowledged the significance of playing in front of local fans, especially for players like Gardiner.
The theme of “Kids Takeover Day” at Pacific Coliseum highlighted the impact the team and league have on children and aspiring professional hockey players. Maschmeyer noted, “We inspire them, but honestly they inspire us.” Alongside Gardiner, other B.C. players on the roster include Katie Chan from Richmond, Hannah Miller and Nina Jobst-Smith from North Vancouver, and Kimberly Newell from Burnaby.
Players from British Columbia in New York’s lineup, such as Sirens captain Micah Zandee-Hart and forward Anne Cherkowski, also appreciated the opportunity to play in their home province, albeit for the opposing team. Zandee-Hart acknowledged the growth of women’s hockey in the province, crediting Vancouver’s new team for further promoting the sport. Cherkowski shared the excitement of playing in front of a lively local crowd at Pacific Coliseum.
The attendance for Vancouver’s second home game of the season was 9,502, following a nearly 15,000-strong crowd at the season opener where the Goldeneyes triumphed over the Seattle Torrent in overtime.