Ottawa Charge Add College Defender Vivian Jungels in PWHL Draft
Ottawa's PWHL team made its move on the blue line during the 2026 PWHL draft, selecting defender Vivian Jungels out of the University of Wisconsin with the 11th overall pick in the first round.
Jungels spent her college career with the Wisconsin Badgers, one of the premier programs in NCAA women's hockey. Playing in the Big Ten — arguably the toughest conference in college women's hockey — she developed the defensive instincts and physical play that PWHL teams covet on the back end. The University of Wisconsin has long been a pipeline for professional women's hockey talent, and Jungels is the latest in that tradition to hear her name called on draft day.
Building the Blue Line
For the Ottawa Charge, adding a defender with Jungels' college pedigree addresses a clear organizational priority. Defence is the backbone of any successful hockey team, and drafting a player with experience in a high-level NCAA program signals the Charge are thinking long-term about their roster construction.
The PWHL draft is a crucial moment for franchises to stock their pipelines with young talent, and a first-round pick carries real weight. Selecting Jungels at 11th overall reflects the Charge's confidence in her ability to eventually contribute at the professional level.
What Jungels Brings to Ottawa
Defenders who come out of programs like Wisconsin tend to be well-coached, disciplined in their own zone, and capable of transitioning the puck effectively. The Big Ten schedule is gruelling, and players who thrive there have typically proven they can handle pressure situations — exactly the kind of experience that translates to the professional game.
While the timeline for her development as a pro remains to be seen, Charge fans have reason to be excited about the direction the organization is heading. Every draft pick is a bet on the future, and Ottawa just made a first-round bet on Jungels.
PWHL Ottawa's Growing Roster
The Ottawa Charge have been one of the more closely watched franchises in the PWHL since the league launched, with a passionate local fanbase hungry for women's hockey success in the nation's capital. Adding a player of Jungels' calibre in the first round keeps the momentum going.
For Ottawa hockey fans, this is another reminder that the Charge are serious about building a competitive, sustainable program — and that the PWHL draft is becoming an increasingly meaningful event on the local sports calendar.
Keep an eye on Vivian Jungels. The 11th pick in the 2026 PWHL draft could be suiting up for your Ottawa Charge sooner than you think.
Source: CBC Ottawa
