Former Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) student-athlete and current German-International Nina Jobst-Smith is set to kick-off her Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) career with her hometown PWHL Vancouver after being selected in the third round of the 2025 PWHL Draft.
After moving to Canada from England at the age of three Jobst-Smith began playing hockey shortly after despite the fact her family had no history in the sport. It was a rocky start to her career as the defenseman initially disliked the sport her first year, before finding her love for the game in year two.
She would spend her early years playing for the North Shore Avalanche before joining the Greater Vancouver Comets Female AAA team in grades 10 and 11.
Heading into her grade 12 year Jobst-Smith wanted to take advantage of her German citizenship, something she acquired as her mom was born there before moving to Canada, returning to Germany for university.
In 2018/19 she would play for ECDC Memmigen in the DFEL, also known as the German Women’s Ice Hockey Bundesliga. Despite being just 17-years-old, Jobst-Smith would thrive in the professional league, tallying 11 points in 26 games as her team captured the German Championship.
Jobst-Smith was initially committed to a U SPORTS school for the 2019/20 season but after finding success at the German U18 and Senior team camps, she de-committed, wanting to step-outside of her comfort zone and head to the NCAA.
After some visits to various NCAA programs Jobst-Smith decided upon the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD), which meant the 2001 born product would need to take a post-grad year.
Jobst-Smith began exploring her options, which lead to her joining CSSHL member program Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) for the 2019/20 season.
“OHA was the best one for me personally. They had a great coaching staff. They have amazing resources, the support system from the school the gyms within the rink and open ice,” remarked Jobst-Smith. “The staff at school were really good about making sure all my grades were lining up and I had the requirements I needed heading into school in the United States. It was cool to be able to have that and really lean into it for a season, it was the perfect prep heading into college.”
Following her season at OHA, Jobst-Smith was set to play for Germany for the first time at the Women’s World Championships in Halifax, NS. However, like the rest of the world, her plans were put on halt as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world in the spring of 2020.
Jobst-Smith would make her Women’s World Championships debut with Germany the following year in Calgary, AB.
“It was kind of like a full circle moment for me. I grew up doing the WickFest Tournament when it was back in B.C., and then they moved it out to Alberta. So, I played at that rink quite a bit, and it was cool to be somewhere that was familiar while at a very unfamiliar tournament for me,” added Jobst-Smith.
Unfamiliarity was a big part of Jobst-Smith’s first few Women’s World Championships with Germany. New teammates, a new level of competition, and a coaching staff that spoke a German, a language Jobst-Smith now fluently understands.
Despite the initial culture shock, Jobst-Smith’s teammates embraced her with open arms, allowing her to reach her full potential on the ice. While she won’t turn 24 until later this month, she has already played 27 games over 5 Women’s World Championships, having been named a Top 3 Player on her Team in 2022 and 2025.
The same season Jobst-Smith made her Women’s World Championship debut she would begin her NCAA career with UMD, an NCAA career that spanned five seasons and 172 games and concluded with her captaining the team in 2024/25.
“It was the best development I could have asked for. I think I picked a really good spot,” reflected Jobst-Smith. “You don’t really know before you head to college what you’re looking for, but once you get there, you have a pretty good idea on if you made the right decision or not. And I made the best one I possibly could have.”
While at UMD Jobst-Smith obtained a Civil Engineering degree although she originally planned to go on a biology track with a potential end game of med school.
A Civil Engineering degree will keep a lot of doors open for Jobst-Smith, doors that she won’t be going through anytime soon as she embarks and what is hopefully a long professional career with PWHL Vancouver.
A two-time NCAA (WCHA) All-Star team selection, Jobst-Smith heard her name called with the 19th pick at the 2025 PWHL Draft by her hometown team.
“I was really excited when I heard Vancouver was going to be getting a team, but I also didn’t want to get my hopes up too much with there being seven other teams in the league,” said Jobst-Smith. “I’ve told other people that the draft was the fastest four hours of my life, but when my name finally got called, I was just in complete disbelief and I broke down. I can’t really put into words how much it means to me, but I’m so excited to be back close to family and friends, back on the North Shore where I can help build the community and culture for women’s hockey.”
Being selected by her hometown team has allowed Jobst-Smith to reflect on her journey through the ranks in Vancouver.
“I was so fortunate to have a great organization to grow up playing in, but I know there’s room for so much more growth and more teams to be had out west and just continuing to build that, will just be a really exciting thing. And I think I’ll play with so much more pride knowing that I have the city of Vancouver behind me and it being in my hometown,” added Jobst-Smith.
And while she has fond memories of her younger years, Jobst-Smith is excited to create new ones with her new pro team.
“First and foremost, I just want to be a great teammate. I want to work hard, which I do. I think that’s how I describe myself as a player. I’m a hard worker, on and off the ice, even in the classroom during college. I am tenacious. I think they have some exciting things coming that way and I just want to fill whatever role I can and whatever role they need of me.”
One advantage Jobst-Smith will have over many of the rookies heading into the PWHL this season is her experience playing against the best players, on the worlds biggest stage.
“It makes you feel a lot more comfortable knowing that you’ve played at the highest level. I mean, playing in the WCHA, in my opinion, it’s the best league in college hockey. So, playing in the best league can only prepare you the best for what’s to come. And I’m really grateful I was able to play there and also with Team Germany, playing with and alongside some PWHL players and playing against them has just made me feel that much more confident that I will be able to hold my own. And although there’s work to be done there, I think I will be able to play at that level,” said Jobst-Smith.
With what she’s accomplished already, it would be tough to bet against Jobst-Smith in her efforts to crack the Vancouver lineup and have an immediate impact on the team.
