Years from now, when the trivia question at the local pub asks, “Who was PWHL Seattle’s first ever draft pick?” Seattle fans will know the answer is eighth overall pick, Jenna Buglioni. The former Ohio State forward, captain, and two-time national champion had 17 goals and 25 assists in her final 38 games as a Buckeye.
Buglioni described the whirlwind of draft day. “It was awesome. Definitely a lot of nerves and excitement. All the emotions. It was nice- my parents were able to be out there so we kind spent the morning together,” she said. “One of my teammates from Ohio State- we were sharing a hotel- we got ready together and did all the hair and makeup together, which was really fun. Then the PWHL did an amazing job. The venue was awesome. Setup was great. It was a really special night for us, and then hearing my name called, obviously, was a dream come true. I couldn't take it all in in the moment. There was so much going on, and it doesn't feel real, but it's definitely an honor. I'm so grateful that I got picked by Seattle. I'm here now, and it still doesn't feel real.”
Playing in Ohio meant being far from her family in British Columbia. “They are so excited. I haven't been this close to home in five years,” Buglioni said. “Not just my immediate family, because they've obviously been able to come out to college and watch, but my extended family that hasn't been able to see me play live in a while- they're excited. All my parents’ friends, and everyone is so excited that I'll be way closer and easier to get home for holidays. Things like that that you don't necessarily think of, but it'll be awesome to be close to them and have them be able to come explore the city with me and be at games and just take it all in as well.” She also said her family might need a suite for that first home game with all the family and friends ready to cheer for Buglioni and her teammates.
Getting to Know Buglioni
Buglioni talked about getting started in hockey and confirmed what fans know- it’s easy to fall in love with the sport. “Growing up in Vancouver, a lot of my friends didn't play hockey, but I'm the youngest of three kids, so my brother and sister both grew up playing hockey,” Buglioni said. “I'm five years younger than my sister, so I was kind of always tagging along at the rink. It was just natural to put me in skates. My dad grew up playing, so it was kind of in the family. His brother also played. We are just around it a lot and I just fell in love with it when I put my skates on.”
The professional hockey season has such a demanding schedule, so checking in and staying grounded in other hobbies is so important. “I am very outdoorsy, so I love to hike. I am so glad to be in the Pacific Northwest where hiking and being by the water and mountains is very easily accessible,” Buglioni said. “I love to cook. I love to bake, Just kind of being creative and like that way away from the rank and anything revolving, like my family and friends I love. That is what I love to do.”
Buglioni on the Ice
Buglioni is making the jump from collegiate to professional this season which she’s well-suited for but will still come with its challenges. “Collegiate play is amazing, but these are the best players in the world, and when you even watch games the time with the puck is next to none,” said Buglioni. “That decision making of just knowing that someone's closing in on you and finishing their check on you within half a second is a big jump just that time with the puck. That's going to be probably that biggest jump, and then the physicality, obviously. Playing in the WCHA is a physical, more physical league in NCAA, but it is that next jump up when you get into the PDub.”
An entire new group of fans have the delight of watching Buglioni on the ice in a professional setting this season. What can they expect? She described her style of play here:
Sports can be a superstitious business, but even when it's not a superstition, rituals often play a big part in getting in the zone before a game. “I try not to be too superstitious, but just maybe just a little. Probably in the way I put my right skate on before my left but tie my left before my right. I always do a pickle juice shot before I play," Buglioni said. "Little things like that, but usually before the game I'm one of those people that I'm dancing around, I'm singing, bringing the energy. Hopefully, my teammates know that if they need to be a little bit more locked in, I might not be the best person to be around. Just those little things to keep it light, but my gear, and then the pickle juice shots. Those are two of the non-negotiable things that I try to get in.”
New Team, New Teammates
Following along with the players on the PWHL Inaugural Media Tour was fun for fans who are soaking up any and all content prior to the season starting. It also was a chance for the players to bond while they explored their new home. “We went all around the city, which has been really cool. I'm only two hours away, so I've kind of been in Seattle before, but haven't done the fish toss, haven't been up to the Space Needle, and all those things,” Buglioni said. “Everyone that we have met has been super friendly, super amazing. We went to the Storm game last night, which was super cool. Climate Pledge is top-notch. Just such an amazing arena, and I'm super excited for us to get in there. It's an awesome city- it's alive. There's lots going on, lots to do. I love the coffee scene, so I'm excited to try out some new things in that perspective. It'll be great to be here.”
This PWHL Seattle team has such a mix of new and veteran players, but once everyone hits the ice, it’s more about coming together as a team. PWHL Seattle has many well-known players on the team and Buglioni is excited to play alongside them. “It's a 'pinch me' moment, but when you get here and you meet them, they're not only amazing hockey players, and what they do on the ice speaks for itself, but amazing people and human beings,” Buglioni said. “Just connecting with them so far, I feel like I've known them for longer. I can't wait to see how those friendships flourish as we go along and get to know them more, and they get to know me more, and when we actually get everyone into town, I think it's our group. Obviously, people have known each other from playing USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, their own teams before they got picked by Seattle, but I think just the way that we're all going to be able to come together and put our own stamp and identity on our team, starting with the clean slate, is going to be really interesting and really fun.”
Not only is Buglioni stepping into her professional career, but she is part of a brand, new organization and team. “It's very exciting because I feel like our leadership and our staff, and all of our players- we can choose kind of what it looks like for us, what identity we want, how we're going to play,” she said. “We're starting fresh, but the city and the whole state of Washington love sports- loves women's sports in general- so we're going to have a lot of excitement around our team and being able to connect with the community in that way is going to be really exciting. Even we saw that the storm game last night- just a sold out game. The crowd was super into it. They gave us a huge cheer when we went out onto the court, so we're excited to show them what we have on the ice and us as people and kind of get to know them and them. Get to know us more.”
Growing the Game
Buglioni may not have been a part of the Takeover Tours last season, but she knows what it’s like to be a part of growing the game of hockey. Any touch points with the community is a vital aspect of that. “I definitely think that it's really important, not only for the league as a whole to see what could be potentials for us to expand, whenever that may happen, what markets would be good, but also a big thing for us is the next generation being able to have eyes and see that this is possible,” Buglioni said. “I just played five years in Columbus and women's hockey in Columbus is obviously not the biggest thing, but we're growing it, so I feel like getting in those markets in areas where people maybe haven't gotten the chance to be around hockey and be around the players is really important. I wish I was at the Takeover Tour here, because seeing the content was amazing. Just how many people wanted to be a part of it, and you can tell that people are like itching for a team to get. here”
The season will be here in the blink of an eye, but until then, Buglioni is already looking ahead to wearing that Seattle emerald and cream. She wants fans to know that she's a “spitfire who is going to bring a lot of spunk, a lot of energy, and then someone that is loyal to a fault,” Buglioni said. “When I put on that jersey, I'm going to give my best every time I'm out there. I just can't wait to meet everyone and see what we can do this season.”