Vancouver’s Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise revealed on Tuesday that they have officially inked agreements 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, who captained the University of Minnesota-Duluth team, accumulated 18 points, comprising three goals and 15 assists, in 37 games in the 2024-25 season. She was also honored with a spot on the All-WCHA Second Team.
Brooks, a 23-year-old player from Whitby, Ont., was selected in the fourth round as the 32nd overall pick from Penn State. The forward achieved a career-best of 32 points while with the Nittany Lions and earned a spot on the All-CHA Second Team during the 2023-24 season.
Samoskevich, picked in the fifth round at 39th overall, amassed a total of 84 points, including 19 goals and 65 assists, across 168 games during her time at Quinnipiac University. The 22-year-old from Sandy Hook, Conn., transitioned from defense to a forward position in her final NCAA season.
Jobst-Smith’s contract spans two years, while Brooks and Samoskevich secured one-year deals. The upcoming 2025-26 season will see Vancouver and Seattle enter the PWHL as new expansion teams.
