Return of PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour shifts women's hockey focus back on sport's future

It would be tough to top Brianne Jenner's last 14 months of hockey.

In that time, the Canadian forward won Olympic gold and two world championships. In Beijing, she tied an Olympic record with nine goals to earn MVP honours.

Her next game will come on Saturday in Montreal as part of the Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association's Dream Gap Tour. Jenner will wear the same colours as American star Hilary Knight on Team Sonnet.

"I think everyone's really excited to play for the PWHPA and what we represent," Jenner said. "It's different than any other logo that that we've worn on our jersey in the past. It represents something much bigger than ourselves, much bigger than a hockey team."

The Dream Gap Tour, a barnstorming series of weekend-long stops across North America, returns for its fourth consecutive season. The PWHPA, which rose from the ashes of the defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League, has still not established a formal pro league as it seeks sustainability.

Live coverage of every PWHPA game this season will be available worldwide on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app, CBC Gem and CBC Sports' YouTube channel. Coverage of the Montreal series begins Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET, when Jenner's Team Sonnet faces Natalie Spooner's Team Scotiabank.

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Jenner, a 31-year-old three-time Olympian from Oakville, Ont., said she's excited to team up with her American foes after so many months of battle.

"I think it's becoming glaringly obvious how much of an opportunity there is in women's hockey and in women's sport in general. And I think, with our work with the PWHPA, we've really taken our support the next level."

In 2022, the Dream Gap Tour will feature more