NWHL’s Jenny Scrivens Turned Her Passions Into The Ultimate Dream Job

Image via @JenScrivs Twitter account

If you’re even the least bit immersed in the hockey world, you’re probably familiar with the Montreal Canadiens newest goaltender, Ben Scrivens. More impressively in the Scrivens household though, is his lovely wife, Jenny {sorry, Ben}.

Bring your spouse to work day ?? https://t.co/n8XHctdkgF

— Jenny Scrivens (@JenScrivs) January 31, 2016

Jenny isn’t just any other hockey wife, she’s not even remotely close to that. Jenny Scrivens is one of the faces {if not THE FACE} of the newly launched, National Women’s Hockey League. Her position as not only the New York Riveters goaltender- but also as the NWHL’s communication department superstar- just further proves her star-power.

Her involvement off the ice while moving from one team to the next with her NHL-playing hubby far surpasses one of the stereotypical hockey wife. Her communication background stems back to her college days, where she majored in communications and minored in business at Cornell and later earned a postgraduate degree in Public Relations at Humber College. While her husband spent his time with the Edmonton Oilers, Jenny served as the director of communications at the Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton.

Having played college hockey for Cornell University for three seasons, going into her career with the Riveters was not completely unfamiliar territory.

Read on to find out everything from what playing in the NWHL has meant to Jenny, the charitable efforts of the NWHL and even a bit about what it’s like to be the epitome of #relationshipgoals.

? #WinterClassic #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/dFAFrFE5K2

— Jenny Scrivens (@JenScrivs) December 31, 2015

The Pink Puck: I’m going to start off with the cliché, but what does it mean to you that the NWHL has opened up the opportunity for women to play hockey professionally?

Jenny Scrivens:  I think it’s about time women have the opportunity to be paid to play hockey. We’ve seen a tremendous growth in support for women’s sports lately, in a wide range of arenas from soccer to UFC and everything in between. These women deserve to be paid for being the best in the world.

The Pink Puck: How do you feel the NWHL is paving the road for women in sports everywhere?

Jenny Scrivens: The NWHL is providing young girls with the opportunity to dream of playing professional hockey one day, instead of that opportunity only being available to boys. But I hope the league does more than just inspire the next generation of female hockey players, I hope that it inspires the next generation of sports writers, general managers, coaches and announcers. There are so many boundaries that this league can push, and they’re not just on the ice.

The Pink Puck: You’re well into the season at this point, but what has it been like thus far? (ie. playing professionally)

Jenny Scrivens: It’s been a dream come true to play professional hockey. I never imagined I’d have this opportunity, and I’m just trying my best to make the most of it.

The Pink Puck: You have some impressive stats from your time playing at Cornell, how has it been adjusting to playing competitively again?

Jenny Scrivens: I took about six years off of playing competitive hockey. I hung up my skate at the end of my junior year at Cornell and didn’t start up again until I heard about the NWHL. It’s been an uphill climb, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge of getting back into playing shape and implementing some new goaltending techniques.

The Pink Puck: I’ve read a lot about your involvement in charitable organizations and that’s also something that I have always been heavily involved in. Will the NWHL be used as a platform for charitable work?

Jenny Scrivens: The NWHL already has a charitable arm in the NWHL Foundation. This foundation exists to help grow women’s hockey at the grassroots level and get more young girls to try the sport. Getting involved with the community in each of our four markets is an important goal for us in year one. We’re building a brand and a fan base from the ground up, and we want to do it the right way. This means giving back to the community and supporting initiatives that are important to our fans.

The Pink Puck: The NWHL has given hope to all of the girls out there that have been told that ‘it’s a man’s world’. What would be some advice you would give to young girls who aspires to play professionally?

Jenny Scrivens: Have fun playing hockey and get a good education. Hockey has provided me with a lot of wonderful opportunities, but none as great as getting a degree. Maintain balance in your life with family, friends, school and sports.  

The Pink Puck: How unique is it for you to say that both you and your husband play hockey professionally?

Jenny Scrivens: It’s the only thing I know! I’m sure it must be pretty interesting to other people, but ever since I met Ben, we’ve both been playing hockey. It definitely helps that we can understand what each other is going through in terms of the pressure of playing a professional sport and the pressures unique to goaltending.

His and hers ? pic.twitter.com/hnSvFzAwBc

— Jenny Scrivens (@JenScrivs) January 15, 2016

The Pink Puck: I also work in PR, so I’m just curious as to how this experience of playing for the Riveters and also working public relations has been for you so far?

Jenny Scrivens: It’s been so much fun combining my passions into one dream job. In both roles, my goal is to grow women’s hockey in any way I can.

Road trips as staff might be more exhausting than road trips as a player ?

— Jenny Scrivens (@JenScrivs) January 25, 2016

Thanks again to Jenny for taking the time to discuss the NWHL!