'It's a dream come true': Ottawa Charge sign first-round pick Vivian Jungels to one-year deal

Vivian Jungels (middle) stands alongside PWHL vice-president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford and Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld at the 2026 PWHL Draft. Photo by HEATHER POLLOCK /PWHL

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Vivian Jungels has never stepped foot in Ottawa before, but the Charge’s first-round draft pick knows it won’t take long for the city to feel like home.

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In fact, the 22-year-old defender is already drawing parallels between Canada’s capital and her hometown of Edina, Minn.

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“What I’ve been told is everything is kind of along the water, which I think is super cool,” Jungels told the Ottawa Citizen. “I grew up on a lake, so just having some water nearby will help me feel like I’m a little bit more at home.”

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And she’s now one step closer to making the move north of the border to her new home, as the Charge announced Wednesday that Jungels has signed a one-year contract to play in Ottawa.

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“It’s a dream come true to sign a contract, especially being with the Charge organization,” Jungels said Wednesday morning. “I’m just very grateful the Charge picked me and that they’re giving me this opportunity to start my career.”

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During her four-year tenure at the University of Wisconsin, Jungels collected 75 points and helped the program win three NCAA titles. The 5-foot-7, left-shot defender also amassed a program-high plus-218 differential and led the team in shot blocks in her last two seasons.

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While former Badger Sarah Wozniewicz will be the only familiar face in the Charge locker room for Jungels, she said she already has gotten text messages from several of the Charge players welcoming her to the team.

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Where will Jungels fit into the Charge lineup?

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Describing herself as a shutdown defender, Jungels certainly will be a welcome reinforcement on the Charge blue line, especially after last season’s first-round pick Rory Guilday departed for San Jose during expansion.

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“Talking to some of the Wisconsin coaches, they rave about (Jungels’) hockey IQ, how she makes the right decision at the right time, always in the right place and can make a first pass,” Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld told the Ottawa Citizen.

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“She brings a lot of skills that we really like as an organization and put that on top of her being a great person, a great skater. We’re really excited to have her and look forward to her being here long-term.”

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While it may be too early to talk defensive pairings with training camps still two months out, Hirshfeld said he envisions Jungels being a “real natural” alongside veteran defender Ronja Savolainen.

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The pairing may be just what the Charge needs to support Savolainen as she continues to tap into her high offensive potential.

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After all, Jungels is no stranger to playing alongside superstar offensive-minded blue liners after spending the last four years in Wisconsin paired with Caroline ‘KK’ Harvey, who was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes.

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Not many players would know Harvey’s style of play as well as her four-year D-partner, which might even give the Charge a leg up whenever Vancouver is in town.