B.C.\u2019s Jenn Gardiner turns down PWHL expansion team offer<\/p>\n
Published 10:41 am Tuesday, June 9, 2026<\/p>\n
Surrey\u2019s Jenn Gardiner has turned down a chance to move to a PWHL expansion team, as the league continues to fill rosters for four new teams.<\/p>\n
Under Phase 2 of the PWHL\u2019s Expansion Roster Distribution Process, the expansion teams \u2013 Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose \u2013 were each given a chance to sign five players from existing teams.<\/p>\n
Gardiner opted not to sign the offer she received. (The league does not make public which teams made offers.) That means she must now sign with any of the 12 teams in the league during Phase 3.<\/p>\n
Gardiner, who grew up in Cloverdale, played for the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League (PWHL) in the 2025-26 season. In her 2024-25 rookie season, she played for Montr\u00e9al Victoire before being traded on June 5, 2025, to Vancouver.<\/p>\n
In previous media interviews, Gardnier had stated that she hoped to remain in Vancouver playing for her hometown team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I entered the PWHL, it was just a dream, and obviously, I loved my first year in Montreal, and I never would have left. But when there\u2019s a team in Vancouver, how can you not want to go and play on your hometown team,\u201d she said in a previous interview with the Now-Leader. <\/a><\/p>\n During Phase 2, each of the four expansion teams signed five players from an existing team to their roster. Gardiner was given a foundational player offer but did not sign.<\/p>\n The PWHL defines a foundational player offer as a \u201cnon-binding contract offer issued to eligible players on expiring contracts during Phase 2. Players who received the offers must sign with any team during Phase 3.\u201d It also requires that their contract be \u201cgreater than or equal to\u201d $ 73,125 USD.<\/p>\n In addition to Gardiner, her teammate Izzy Daniel also received a foundational player offer during Phase 2 that she did not sign, as did Kali Flanagan (TOR\/D), Julia Gosling (SEA\/F), Susanna Tapani (BOS\/F) and Grace Zumwinkle (MIN\/F).<\/p>\n Phase 2 ended on Monday (June 8), and Phase 3 opens on June 10 at 9 a.m. PT and runs until June 12 at noon PT.<\/p>\n No players from the Vancouver Goldeneyes were signed to an expansion team during Phase 2.<\/p>\n The Phase 2 \u201cexpansion team foundational signings\u201d were:<\/p>\n (Previous Team\/Position\/Contract Length)<\/p>\n Detroit: Cayla Barnes (SEA\/D\/3), Hannah Bilka (SEA\/F\/2), Jesse Compher (TOR\/F\/3), Britta Curl-Salemme (MIN\/F\/3), Daryl Watts (TOR\/F\/4)<\/p>\n Hamilton: Emily Clark (OTT\/F\/2), Nicole Gosling (MTL\/D\/3), Brianne Jenner (OTT\/F\/3), Alina M\u00fcller (BOS\/F\/3), Kayle Osborne (NY\/G\/3)<\/p>\n Las Vegas: Erin Ambrose (MTL\/D\/2), Mae Batherson (MIN\/D\/2), Kendall Cooper (MIN\/D\/2), Hilary Knight (SEA\/F\/1), Hayley Scamurra (MTL\/F\/3)<\/p>\n San Jose: Anne Cherkowski (NY\/F\/2), Rory Guilday (OTT\/D\/2), Kristin O\u2019Neill (NY\/F\/2), Corinne Schroeder (SEA\/G\/2), Maddi Wheeler (NY\/F\/2)<\/p>\n About the Author: Anna Burns<\/p>\n I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader.\u00a0anna.burns@surreynowleader.com<\/a>\u00a0Follow Anna on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n