Concordia goaltender Jordyn Verbeek carries leadership beyond the ice as FISU ambassador
Jordyn Verbeek has built her hockey career on calm, determination and a willingness to try new things in pursuit of opportunity.
Now in her fifth and final season with the Concordia Stingers, the veteran goaltender is applying those same traits to both her play and her leadership, on and off the ice.
“I would say I’m determined,” said Verbeek.
“Whether it’s on the ice, in the classroom or in whatever I do, I want to excel at what I do. I want to put forth my best effort and make sure that I’m there to compete and be the best version of myself.”
Raised in Langley, B.C., Verbeek grew up in a sports-centric household. Her father and brother were both goaltenders, and hockey quickly became a family language. She sampled a range of sports, from cheerleading to basketball, before realizing that hockey offered something different.
“It was just a feeling,” she said.
“The moment I stepped on the ice, I was like, I love this. I love the feeling of stopping a puck. I love just being in net and having that pressure on you and being able to be in my own world.”
That clarity eventually extended beyond position to purpose. While Verbeek grew up playing boys’ hockey, she later switched to women’s hockey in search of greater exposure and opportunity, joining the Greater Vancouver Comets. The move took her across British Columbia and throughout North America, including trips to Boston, Minnesota and Winnipeg.
Those travels proved pivotal.
During tournaments in Ontario and at the national championship with Team B.C. in Winnipeg, Verbeek caught the attention of Concordia’s coaching staff. The Montreal-based program soon reached out, and a campus visit sealed the decision.
“I immediately fell in love,” she said.
“I fell in love with the team, with the culture, with the campus.”
Leaving British Columbia was never a small decision. At the time, opportunities in women’s university hockey in the province were limited, and Verbeek understood early that pursuing the sport seriously would likely take her far from home.
“I kind of knew from a young age that if I wasn’t going to UBC, I would be exploring options pretty far from home,” she said.
Five years later, Concordia became home.
As a goaltender, Verbeek describes herself as calm and technical, a steady presence her teammates can rely on. She prides herself on consistency and composure, while continuing to push herself to expand her game.
“I like to stay consistent and be calm and kind of be a rock for my team,” she said.
“But it’s also something I need to work on being more outgoing and making bigger saves, not always staying on the technical side.”
That steady approach has mirrored Concordia’s broader identity. The Stingers have been among the most successful programs in the country, and Verbeek says the current season is about building toward March rather than chasing early results.
“We’re just taking this one step at a time,” she said.
“We’re building off of last year and all the years before and trying to build the best team we can have come March.”
Last year, Verbeek’s hockey journey expanded onto the international stage when she represented Canada at the FISU Winter World University Games in Italy, which is an experience she describes as the highlight of her career.
“Being able to wear the Team Canada jersey in a country away from home was incredible,” she said.
“I’d never been to Europe before, and walking into the opening ceremonies in front of 16,000 people was one of my biggest memories.”
The Games opened her eyes to the global scale of university sport and inspired her to become involved in the FISU Student Ambassador Program. Through the initiative, Verbeek is developing a mentorship project aimed at keeping young girls involved in sport during key dropout years.
“I know a lot of young female athletes start to drop out around high school,” she said.
“I’ve had so many opportunities through university sports, and I can’t imagine other kids not having that opportunity.”
Her plan pairs young female athletes with university student-athlete mentors, creating spaces for workshops, in-person events and community connection.
“It’s about empowering young girls to stay in sport, but also empowering university athletes to use their voice and be confident in who they are.”
Studying business management at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business, Verbeek has drawn directly from her academic experience to shape the project.
“I already have a good basis of how to do these things,” she said.
“It’s allowed me to accelerate my program and implementation.”
As she prepares for life after university hockey, Verbeek remains focused on the ice. Her goal is to play professionally, whether in the newly launched Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) or overseas, before eventually potentially transitioning into coaching.
For now, motivation comes from perspective.
“We’re not going to have this opportunity all our lives,” she said.
“Just remembering how lucky I am and the goals that we’re chasing helps me push through the tougher days.”