OTTAWA — A simple conversation between Ottawa Charge captain Brianna Jenner and head coach Carla MacLeod changed the game this week.
Jenner moved from wing to center in the second game of the PWHL season and responded with a four-point performance—two goals, two assists.
“You're always trying to find the right chemistry,” MacLeod said. “You're always trying to put players in positions to be successful. And obviously, you know, she has such great experience playing both wing and center… we thought it would give us a different perspective.”
It's more than likely that fans will see more given the outcome.
Jenner, 34, shows no signs of slowing down ahead of her third season in the PWHL.
Jenner played between Rebecca Leslie and Anna Meixner, who each scored a goal for Ottawa in a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Wednesday night as the Charge bounced back from a 4-0 season-opening loss to New York.
“I think my hitters made my job a lot easier,” Jenner said. “There's definitely some things I need to get more comfortable with. I think I could have been more aggressive in the D zone, creating turnovers and things like that, but it was really fun to get back into that position and play with two wingers that really worked hard today.”
Leslie has thrived playing alongside Jenner and admitted that her captain is a player she has looked up to throughout her career.
Now in her third season, Leslie hopes to make a significant contribution and expand her game. Playing alongside a veteran of Jenner's caliber should only help.
“I mean, she’s someone I’ve looked up to for years,” Leslie said.
They played together in Calgary in the Canadian Women's Hockey League and trained together in the off-season.
“I think when you have to play with players like Brianna Jenner, you just want to step up and do well for them,” Leslie said. “So yeah, I was lucky to play with such a great player.”
Last season, Jenner's point totals dropped to seven goals and eight assists in 28 games. In her first PWHL season, she scored nine goals and 11 assists in 24 games.
While she doesn't set specific points goals for the season, she does set standards for herself.
“I think I set a lot of goals for myself,” Jenner said. “I try to focus on the details that you do to help your team win.”
The key for the Charge this season is improving their power play, which was often a concern last season.
Jenner's first goal on Wednesday night came with the lead, a one-timer that made its way through traffic to open the Charge's scoring.
“To be able to pull off a draw like Gabby (Hughes) did, like Rory (Gilday) did, and then just to be able to do it so quickly,” Jenner said. “I think it's kind of a process that we've really focused on, so it's nice to see it pay off.”
If Jenner can continue to contribute, it should pay off in more ways than one.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2025.
