Namita Nayyar:
As a pro athlete, you spend a lot of time traveling, on buses, and in dry arena environments. What does your skincare routine look like to keep your skin healthy through a grueling PWHL season?
Brianne Jenner:
Hydration is really important for me. Especially with so much time spent in hotel environments. As I have gotten older, I have tried to focus more on taking care of my skin, but I am not a person with a multi-step routine. I try to have a good moisturizer on hand, but my routine is not much more than that.
Namita Nayyar:
From a hair and makeup perspective, what is your game-day routine? Is it part of your pre-game ritual to feel confident and ready, or is it more of a quick and simple process?
Brianne Jenner:
I keep things pretty simple on game days. I like feeling fresh and well-dressed for games but nothing time-intensive.
Namita Nayyar:
We’d love to get practical. Are there any hero products—whether for hair, skin, or overall wellness—that you always have in your travel bag?
Brianne Jenner:
I like traveling with my sleep mask and loop ear plugs. Especially when on the road and sharing hotel rooms with roommates it helps me with my sleep routines. I also need to have my “bag of tricks” for recovery (lacrosse ball, foam roller, bands, etc.). One of my favorite products in my recovery bag are my toe separators. They’re a very cheap product but so great for foot health, especially when we spend so much time in a restrictive skate.
Namita Nayyar:
Your story began on an outdoor rink your father built. At what point in your journey did you truly believe that playing hockey professionally could be a viable career, and not just a dream?
Brianne Jenner:
I have been lucky to play on the national team for several years now, and throughout my career I have had access to government funding and sponsorships which has enabled me to make a career out of it. It wasn’t until the launch of the PWHL three years ago that we were able to play in a truly “professional” environment on a regular basis, and that players beyond those on the national team could make a career out of it, having access to salaries, benefits, etc. It’s been unbelievable to see how far our sport has come in a few short years.
Namita Nayyar:
You were instrumental in the formation of the PWHL and the PWHPA before it. Looking back at the sacrifices made during the boycott years, what was the moment you knew the fight for a sustainable league was going to be successful?
Brianne Jenner:
Our foundation in those years was hope and belief, but there was no guarantee of success throughout most of the process. We didn’t know for sure that we were going to be able to launch a sustainable league until we signed the CBA the summer before the league launched. It took a lot of trust in each other in the PWHPA and a lot of faith in the process. The players collectively made it happen but sticking to the belief that they deserved a pro league.
Namita Nayyar:
You’ve worn a letter on your jersey for years, for both club and country. How did becoming a mother change your perspective on leadership and being a teammate? Emily Clark mentioned you’ve always had a “mom” quality in the locker room—do you see it that way?
Brianne Jenner:
Becoming a mom changed me in every way. It’s been the greatest experience of my life and has given me so much perspective. I think especially having 3 young kids has made me more patient and easy going. You just can’t be on top of everything with 3 running around you have to roll with the punches. So I’ve learned to let go a bit more and try to worry more about the important things like quality time with them and to be okay with the laundry being behind haha. Having kids has made me level up in some regards, in that I can just handle way more than I ever thought I could, but also calm down because I have more perspective on what is important, and where to put my energy.
Namita Nayyar:
You run your own Hockey Academy in Oakville. What is the most important piece of advice you give to young players, especially girls who now have a clear PWHL dream to aspire to, that you wished you had heard at their age?
Brianne Jenner:
Build your game around your strengths. Don’t try to be another player out there, don’t compare. Just bring the best version of you. Of course you can add to your game, and work on things you need to improve on, but you need to own what makes you, you.
Namita Nayyar:
With the playoff heartbreak fresh and a strong regular season behind you, what is the singular focus for the Ottawa Charge as you push toward the postseason?
Brianne Jenner:
Consistency. Bringing playoff habits into every game down the stretch. We know every game matters so we’ve got to be dialed in on details every period.
Namita Nayyar:
You have a Master’s in Public Policy and have been deeply involved in union leadership. When you eventually hang up your skates, do you see your future in hockey operations, policy, or something entirely different?
Brianne Jenner:
Those are definitely all avenues that I’ve considered. Right now I’m focused on my playing career but it is really exciting to see so many new opportunities for roles within women’s hockey as a result of this league. One of the scariest things about being a pro athlete is that your body times you out of your first career. However this is also really exciting in that you get to start a new chapter in the middle of your working life.
Brianne Jenner Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjenner19/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President of womenfitness.net, and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or in full anywhere without express permission.
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