Jenn Gardiner scores her first Olympic goal as Team Canada dominates Finland 5-0, moving confidently into the quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Games.
Gardiner Shines in Canada’s Big Win Over Finland
Cloverdale’s own Jenn Gardiner made a memorable mark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, scoring her first Olympic goal in Team Canada’s commanding 5-0 victory over Finland on February 12.
The game-winning goal came early, at 15:12 of the first period, with perfect setup from Julia Gosling and Kristin O’Neill. O’Neill also found the back of the net later in the second period, joining Darryl Watts, while Emily Clark finished off a pair of goals in the final frame, rounding out the shutout.
A Moment of Personal Triumph and Team Pride
Speaking with the Cloverdale Reporter, Gardiner shared her excitement but emphasized the bigger picture. “Whenever I get to wear the Maple Leaf, I want to have an impact in any way I can,” she said. “It’s the Olympics—the moment I’ve trained for my whole life. I want to seize every opportunity and contribute to our team’s success.”
She described the first goal as “rewarding,” but her focus remains on team performance and progress as Canada heads into the quarterfinals. “We hold our standard very high here on Team Canada,” Gardiner added. “We didn’t play our best against the U.S., but we learned from it and moved forward. I’m ready to keep showing the world what we’re capable of.”
Canada’s Road to Gold Continues
This marks Gardiner’s Olympic debut, and she is already leaving a mark. Team Canada stands at 3-1 after the round-robin, defeating Switzerland (4-0), the Czech Republic (5-1), and Finland (5-0), while their only loss came against the U.S. (5-0).
With quarterfinals starting February 13, fans can expect the team to build on this momentum, aiming for gold as the semifinals and medal games approach on February 16 and 19, respectively.
