“Growing up on the west coast, I had always told myself that that was just never gonna be something that happened in my lifetime in hockey,” she told CBC Sports back in the spring.
Since Poulin starred on Vancouver ice more than 15 years ago, more girls and women in B.C have started playing hockey. Fewer than 6,800 females were registered to play in 2009-10, according to data published by Hockey Canada.
That grew to more than 8,800 last season, and B.C. Hockey expects that number will only continue to grow with the Goldeneyes in town.
“We’ve seen a huge spike,” said Brianna Davey, who is B.C. Hockey’s vice president of member services for minor and female hockey. “Last year was one of the highest years that we’ve had in women’s and girls’ hockey ever in B.C. That in itself, obviously there are events occurring that are causing that spike because other girls want to be part of it.”
That’s shown up on the national team, too. Just four years after Zandee-Hart’s milestone, she’s one of four B.C-based women in contention for the 2026 team. That list includes promising 18-year-old defender Chloe Primerano, who’s from North Vancouver.
Another five women from B.C. made Canada’s most recent national development team roster, meaning more west coast talent could be on the way to the senior team soon.
“The players have always been there, but finally, there’s eyes,” said Surrey’s Jenn Gardiner, who’s working for a spot on the Olympic team, and will play for her hometown Goldeneyes this season. Before heading to Ohio State University in 2019, she played at home for the Greater Vancouver Comets.
“It’s pretty incredible for somebody like me at my age that is lucky and got a set of eyes, and got all these opportunities here today. But it’s pretty cool to hear and connect [with] girls that are a little bit older than me that just can’t even believe there’s a team in Vancouver. They would have killed for an opportunity like this to get to play at home.”
