Jill Saulnier

Jill Saulnier
Born	(1992-03-07) March 7, 1992 (age 32) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight	146 lb (66 kg; 10 st 6 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
PWHL team Former teams	New York Sirens Les Canadiennes de Montréal Calgary Inferno
National team	Canada
Playing career	2011–present

Jillian Pauline Saulnier^[1][2] (born March 7, 1992) is a Canadian ice hockey forward for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She is a two-time Olympian for Canada, winning a gold medal in 2022 and a silver medal in 2018.^[3]

Playing career

Saulnier has competed in five Atlantic Challenge Cups. Saulnier has claimed three gold (2003, 2005, 2007) and two silver medals (2006, 2008). She won a gold medal at Nova Scotia provincials with the Halifax Hawks in 2006.^[4] Saulnier captained the Halifax Hawks the following season and was named team MVP. She played for Nova Scotia at the 2007 Esso Women's Nationals and was part of the fourth-place team.

At the 2007 National Women's Under-18 Championships, she played for Team Atlantic and finished in fourth. In 2008, Saulnier captained Team Atlantic at the 2008 National Women's Under-18 Championships. The team finished in eighth place, but Saulnier was honoured with the Most Sportsmanlike Player award.^[4]

She played for Team Atlantic again at the 2009 National Women's Under-18 Championships and finished in sixth place. That year, Saulnier also played with the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres in Ontario and claimed a silver medal at the OWHA provincials. Two of her teammates on the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres, Laura Fortino and Jessica Wong, would play with her at the 2009 IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championships in Germany and win a silver medal.^[5]

She finished fourth in scoring with the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the PWHL in 2009–10. At the PWHL championships, she won a silver medal with Toronto. In 2010, Saulnier won a gold medal with Toronto at the OWHA provincials.^[4]

NCAA

In February 2011, she committed to join the Cornell Big Red of the ECAC.^[6] In her first three career NCAA games, she registered ten points (seven goals, three assists), along with a +6 rating. In her college debut versus the Colgate Raiders women's ice hockey program on October 25, Saulnier netted four goals.^[7] Her four-goal night was the first for Cornell since Jessica Campbell scored four against Robert Morris in the second game of the 2010–11 season. She scored her first career goal when she was out on the Big Red's first power play of the game. In her next game versus the Yale Bulldogs, she registered one goal and two assists while scoring two goals in her third game versus the Brown Bears women's ice hockey squad. For the month of October 2011, she was tied for first in the ECAC in goals scored (while the other player appeared in eight games).^[8] In a game on November 1, 2011, the Cornell Big Red scored at least nine goals in one game for the third consecutive contest. It was senior captain Chelsea Karpenko's 100th career game, as Saulnier led all Big Red players with two goals and three assists in a 9–2 triumph over the Syracuse Orange women's ice hockey program.^[9]

Hockey Canada

In August 2008, Saulnier was a member of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team, competing in a three-game series against the United States in Lake Placid. The following year, Saulnier was a member of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team that competed in a three-game series against the United States in Calgary. Also, in 2009, she won a silver medal with Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team at the 2009 IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championships. In a March 24, 2010, contest versus the OWHA All-Stars, Saulnier played for the Canadian National Under 18 Women's Team. Saulnier would register an assist in the contest as the OWHA All-Stars defeated the Under 18 team by a 3–2 tally.^[10] In April 2010 she won a gold medal with Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team at the 2010 IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championships in Chicago,^[11] beating Team USA in OT.

She played for Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team in a three-game series vs. the United States in Toronto in August 2010. Saulnier was an assistant captain at the 2010 IIHF Under 18 Women's World Championships.^[12] She finished fourth in tournament scoring with four goals and six assists in five games.

On January 11, 2022, Saulnier was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team.^[13][14][15] The team won the gold medal, defeating the United States in the final 3–2.^[16][17]

CWHL

Saulnier scored a goal as a member of Team Black in the 2nd Canadian Women's Hockey League All-Star Game.^[18]

Appearing with the Calgary Inferno in the 2016 Clarkson Cup finals, Saulnier registered an assist as the Inferno emerged victorious in a convincing 8–3 final.^[19]

At the 3rd CWHL All-Star Game, Saulnier and Jess Jones both scored a hat trick,^[20] becoming the first competitors in CWHL All-Star Game history to achieve the feat.^[21]

On July 12, 2018, Saulnier and teammate Genevieve Lacasse were traded by the Inferno to the Canadiennes de Montreal in exchange for future considerations in the form of player(s) and/or draft pick(s).^[22]

PWHL

Saulnier was drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by New York.^[23] She scored her first PWHL goal in the first official PWHL game, a 4–0 victory over Toronto on January 1, 2024.^[24]

Personal life

Saulnier is a member of the LGBTQ community.^[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008–09	Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres	Prov. WHL		28	14	25	39	12		8	4	7	11	12
2009–10	Toronto Jr. Aeros	Prov. WHL		26	19	16	35	20		6	1	7	8	6
2010–11	Toronto Jr. Aeros	Prov. WHL		14	16	6	22	10		2	1	1	2	16
2011–12	Cornell University	ECAC		33	22	30	52	27		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Cornell University	ECAC		30	10	33	43	30		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Cornell University	ECAC		34	28	28	56	37		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Cornell University	ECAC		28	20	24	44	32		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Calgary Inferno	CWHL		22	12	10	22	16		3	1	3	4	0
2016–17	Calgary Inferno	CWHL		20	11	7	18	12		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Canada	AMHL (Men's)		15	2	6	8	10		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Les Canadiennes de Montréal	CWHL		20	12	17	29	12		4	1	4	5	6
2020–21	Montreal	PWHPA		4	2	0	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Team Adidas	PWHPA		20	1	9	10	6		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	New York	PWHL		18	1	1	2	10		—	—	—	—	—
PWHL totals				18	1	1	2	10		—	—	—	—	—

International

Medal record
Women's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
	2022 Beijing	Team
	2018 Pyeongchang	Team
World Championships
	2021 Canada
	2019 Finland
	2016 Canada
	2015 Sweden
World U18 Championships
	2010 United States

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009	Canada	U18			5	0	3	3	4
2010	Canada	U18			5	4	6	10	2
2015	Canada	WC			5	0	1	1	0
2016	Canada	WC			5	1	2	3	4
2018	Canada	OG			5	1	1	2	0
2019	Canada	WC			7	0	1	1	6
2021	Canada	WC			7	0	0	0	4
2022	Canada	OG			7	0	2	2	0
Junior totals					10	4	9	13	6
Senior totals					36	2	7	9	14

Awards and honours

Cornell

• 2012 Recipient, Cornell Class of '14 Rookie of the Year Award^[26]
• Quill and Dagger Senior Honor Society

NCAA

• ECAC Rookie of the Week (Week of October 31, 2011)^[27]
• ECAC Rookie of the Week (Week of November 7, 2011)^[28]
• ECAC Rookie of the Month (Month of October 2011)^[8]
• ECAC Rookie of the Month (Month of November 2011)^[29]

References

1. Staffieri, Mark (February 15, 2019). "CWHL All-Star Series: Jill Saulnier | Les Canadiennes De Montreal". Women's Hockey Life. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
2. Palmeter, Paul (April 30, 2019). "Jill Saulnier's hockey career at crossroads due to CWHL folding". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
3. "Jillian Saulnier". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
4. Johnson, Meaghen (August 18, 2021). "Team Canada player profile: Jill Saulnier - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
5. "Waterloo Breaking News – Waterloo's Online Newspaper – WaterlooChronicle.ca". WaterlooChronicle.ca. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
6. http://www.beyondthedashers.net/uploads/4/3/5/8/4358899/11-12_nc_team.pdf Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ^{[bare URL PDF]}
7. "Saulnier Notches Four Goals in First Career Game As Cornell Tops Colgate". Cornell University. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
8. "ECAC Hockey" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
9. "Women's Ice Hockey Scores Nine Goals For Third Consecutive Game in Blowout of Syracuse". Cornell University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
10. "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". hockeycanada.ca. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
11. "player-profile". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
12. "Game Summary" (PDF).
13. Awad, Brandi (January 11, 2022). "Team Canada's women's hockey roster revealed for Beijing 2022". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
14. "Canada's 2022 Olympic women's hockey team roster". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
15. "2022 Olympic Winter Games (Women)". www.hockeycanada.ca/. Hockey Canada. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
16. "Olympic gold-medalist Jill Saulnier returns to Halifax". Atlantic. March 4, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
17. Tozer, Jamie (February 17, 2022). "Team Canada wins women's hockey gold at Beijing 2022". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
18. "TEAM BLACK WINS 2016 CWHL ALL-STAR GAME". Canadiennes de Montreal. January 25, 2016. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
19. "2016 Clarkson Cup". cwhl. March 13, 2016. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
20. "Jones shines in CWHL All-Star Game". Mississauga.com. February 13, 2017. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
21. Staffieri, Mark (February 23, 2017). "Jillian Saulnier Soars to Greatness in Classic CWHL All-Star Game | Women's Hockey Life". Retrieved April 11, 2023.
22. Tammy Schwass. "LES CANADIENNES ACQUIRE OLYMPIANS GENEVIÈVE LACASSE AND JILLIAN SAULNIER". Calgary Inferno. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
23. Mulligan, Preston (September 19, 2023). "Nova Scotians make history in first Professional Women's Hockey League draft". CBC. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
24. "Halifax's Jill Saulnier on scoring goal in PWHL's first official game". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
25. Outsports: At least 35 out LGBTQ athletes in Beijing Winter Olympics, a record Archived March 25, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, January 2022
26. "Women's Hockey Announces Year-End Awards at Team Banquet". Cornell University. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
27. "Jenner, Saulnier & Holdcroft Tabbed with Weekly Awards". November 1, 2011. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
28. "ECAC Hockey" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
29. "ECAC Hockey" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2011.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com
• Jillian Saulnier at Olympedia (archive)
• Jillian Saulnier at Team Canada
• Jillian Saulnier at Olympics.com