Vancouver’s Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise revealed on Tuesday that they have officially inked contracts with their draft selections Nina Jobst-Smith, Brianna Brooks, and Madison Samoskevich. Jobst-Smith, hailing from North Vancouver, B.C., was chosen in the third round as the 19th overall pick during the 2025 PWHL Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman, serving as the captain for the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the 2024-25 season, accumulated 18 points (including three goals and 15 assists) and was honored with All-WCHA Second Team recognition.
Brooks, a 23-year-old from Whitby, Ont., secured her spot as the 32nd overall fourth-round pick from Penn State. The forward achieved a career-best 32 points with the Nittany Lions and was named to the All-CHA Second Team in the 2023-24 season. Samoskevich, picked in the fifth round at 39th overall, amassed a total of 84 points (comprising 19 goals and 65 assists) over 168 games while playing for Quinnipiac University. The 22-year-old, originally from Sandy Hook, Conn., transitioned from defense to forward during her final season in the NCAA.
Jobst-Smith signed a two-year contract, whereas Brooks and Samoskevich finalized one-year deals with the team. Vancouver and Seattle are set to join the PWHL as expansion franchises for the upcoming 2025-26 season.