Ottawa Charge
The Ottawa Charge (French: Charge d'Ottawa) are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, competing in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Established in 2023 as one of the league's six charter franchises, the Charge have quickly become a prominent force in Canadian women's professional sports. The team plays its home games at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata and is known for its gritty, defensively strong play. The Charge's name is inspired by Ottawa's city motto, "Advance, Ottawa, En Avant," reflecting a forward-driving energy that has propelled the team to a Walter Cup Final appearance in just its second season.
Franchise history
The Ottawa Charge were founded on August 29, 2023, when the PWHL announced Ottawa as one of its six inaugural franchise locations. Michael Hirshfeld, former executive director of the National Hockey League Coaches' Association, was appointed the team's first general manager. The franchise's initial home venue was announced as TD Place Arena. On September 5, 2023, the team made its first major player signings, securing Canadian national team members Emily Clark, Brianne Jenner, and Emerance Maschmeyer to three-year contracts. Head coach Carla MacLeod, a former Canadian national team player and head coach of the Czech women's national team, was hired on September 15, 2023. The team completed its initial roster through the 2023 PWHL Draft on September 18, selecting American defender Savannah Harmon with its first pick, fifth overall.
The team operated under the generic name PWHL Ottawa for its inaugural 2023-24 season, wearing a league-wide jersey template in the team's colours of red and grey. Brianne Jenner was named the franchise's first captain, with Clark and Jincy Roese serving as alternate captains. The Charge played their historic first game on January 2, 2024, hosting PWHL Montreal at TD Place Arena before a record crowd of 8,318. Hayley Scamurra scored the franchise's first goal in an eventual 3-2 overtime loss. Ottawa secured its first franchise win on January 13, 2024, with a 5-1 victory over PWHL Toronto. Despite leading the PWHL in attendance for the season, the Charge missed the playoffs, finishing with a record that awarded them the second overall selection in the 2024 PWHL Draft.
The 2024-25 season marked a dramatic breakthrough for the franchise, now officially branded as the Ottawa Charge following a September 2024 name and logo unveiling. The team finished third in the regular season with a record of 12 wins, 2 regulation losses, 4 overtime losses, and 12 shootout losses. In the playoffs, Ottawa upset the top-seeded Montréal Victoire in a semifinal series that featured a four-overtime game. Rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips, who posted a .952 save percentage in the playoffs, was named the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. The Charge advanced to the Walter Cup Final but fell to the Minnesota Frost in four games, each decided in overtime. This deep playoff run established Ottawa as a formidable contender in the league.
Team identity and branding
For the PWHL's inaugural 2023-24 season, all six charter franchises, including Ottawa, operated without unique names or logos, using a standard league jersey with the city name displayed diagonally. Ottawa's colour scheme during this period was red and grey. The league registered a trademark for the name "Ottawa Alert" in October 2023, a potential homage to the early 20th-century women's hockey champions, the Ottawa Alerts. However, the franchise's permanent identity was revealed in September 2024 as the Ottawa Charge. The name was chosen to reflect the city's official motto, "Advance, Ottawa, En Avant," symbolizing a forward-driving force. The team's logo is an in-motion, unfinished circle that incorporates the initials "OC." With the new branding, the colour yellow was officially added to the team's palette of red, grey, and white.
Arena and location
The Ottawa Charge began play at the 8,500-seat TD Place Arena at Lansdowne Park. The team led the PWHL in attendance during its inaugural season, drawing an average of 6,768 fans per game in the 2024-25 season, with weekend games averaging 8,348. On November 7, 2025, Ottawa City Council approved the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment plan, which included demolishing TD Place Arena to build a new arena with a reduced capacity of 5,850 seats. The PWHL and the Charge organization, represented by executives Jayna Hefford and Amy Scheer, strongly opposed this reduction, arguing it was insufficient for the team's growing fanbase. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe suggested relocating to a larger venue in the metropolitan area, such as the Canadian Tire Centre. The future of the Canadian Tire Centre itself has been subject to speculation due to plans for a new arena at LeBreton Flats, but no definitive agreement has been reached.
Players and personnel
The Ottawa Charge's roster has been built through strategic signings and drafts. The team's foundational players were signed on September 5, 2023: forwards Emily Clark and Brianne Jenner, and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer. Jenner served as team captain from 2023 through the 2025-26 season. Head coach Carla MacLeod has led the team since its inception, with her initial staff including assistant coaches Haley Irwin and Cassea Schols and goaltending coach Pierre Groulx. A key figure in the team's success has been goaltender Gwyneth Philips, a back-to-back PWHL Goaltender of the Year nominee who was the playoff MVP during the 2025 postseason run. As of the 2026-27 season, the roster typically comprises three goaltenders, seven defenders, and nine forwards, with an average age of 27.47 years. The Charge have made the following first-round selections in the annual PWHL Draft:
- 2023: Savannah Harmon (Defence, 5th overall)
- 2024: Danielle Serdachny (Forward, 2nd overall)
- 2025: Rory Guilday (Defence, 5th overall)
- 2026: Vivian Jungels (Forward, 11th overall)
Season-by-season record
The Ottawa Charge have completed three full seasons in the PWHL, showing significant competitive growth. Their inaugural 2023-24 season ended without a playoff berth, but it established a strong fanbase and provided valuable experience. The 2024-25 campaign was a landmark success, culminating in an appearance in the Walter Cup Final. The 2025-26 season saw the team contend once again in an expanded eight-team league, setting the stage for further challenges with the addition of four more expansion teams. The team's performance in the 2024-25 playoffs was particularly notable. After finishing third, they defeated the first-place Montréal Victoire in the semifinals before losing the Walter Cup Final to the Minnesota Frost in four overtime games. This result highlighted the team's resilience and defensive strength, anchored by goaltender Gwyneth Philips.
| Season | League | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | PWHL | Did not qualify | , |
| 2024-25 | PWHL | 3rd place (12-2-4-12) | Walter Cup Finalists |
| 2025-26 | PWHL | Playoff qualifier | Semifinals |
Community and cultural impact
The Ottawa Charge have rapidly embedded themselves into the capital's sports culture, drawing consistent and passionate crowds. The team's commitment to a downtown location was initially a point of pride, though practical capacity issues led to the move to the Canadian Tire Centre. The Charge actively engage with the community through initiatives like fan experience packages and outreach to youth hockey players, specifically targeting girls in grades 8 and 9 in Ottawa. The team's players have also represented the city on the international stage, with several, including Brianne Jenner and Jocelyne Larocque, having connections to the Canadian team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The franchise's branding, tied directly to the city's motto, and its on-ice success have made it a source of civic pride and a significant contributor to the growth of professional women's hockey in Canada.
Questions about Ottawa Charge
When were the Ottawa Charge founded?
The Ottawa Charge were founded on August 29, 2023, when the Professional Women's Hockey League announced Ottawa as one of its six charter franchises. The team was initially known as PWHL Ottawa during the league's inaugural season before its permanent name, the Charge, was unveiled in September 2024. The franchise's first game in history took place on January 2, 2024, at TD Place Arena against PWHL Montreal. This inaugural game set a new attendance record for a professional women's hockey game with 8,318 fans. The team's original general manager was named as Michael Hirshfeld, and its first head coach was Carla MacLeod.
Where do the Ottawa Charge play their home games?
The Ottawa Charge play their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata for the 2026-27 season and beyond. The team originally played its home games at TD Place Arena for its first three seasons. The decision to move to the Canadian Tire Centre was made after a dispute over the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment plan, which proposed a new arena with a reduced seating capacity of 5,850 seats. The team and league opposed this plan, as the Charge's average attendance during the 2024-25 season was 6,768, rising to 8,348 for weekend games. The move to the larger venue was confirmed for the 2026-27 season.
Who is the head coach of the Ottawa Charge?
Carla MacLeod has been the head coach of the Ottawa Charge since September 15, 2023. MacLeod is a former member of the Canadian national women's hockey team and was previously the head coach of the Czech women's national team. Her initial coaching staff was announced on October 17, 2023, and included assistant coaches Haley Irwin and Cassea Schols, along with goaltending coach Pierre Groulx. MacLeod has led the team through its first three seasons, including a run to the Walter Cup Final in the 2024-25 campaign. She was present for the team's end of season media availability in May 2026.
Have the Ottawa Charge won the Walter Cup?
The Ottawa Charge have not won the Walter Cup. Their closest attempt came in the 2024-25 season when they advanced to their first Walter Cup Final. They finished the regular season in third place and upset the top seeded Montréal Victoire in a dramatic semifinal series that included a four overtime game. Led by rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips, who was named the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP, the Charge ultimately lost the championship series to the Minnesota Frost in four games, all of which ended in overtime. This marked their best playoff performance to date.
Who are some of the Ottawa Charge's star players?
Star players for the Ottawa Charge include original signings and longtime captain Brianne Jenner, along with fellow national team players Emily Clark and Emerance Maschmeyer. Goaltender Gwyneth Philips, the 2024-25 playoff MVP, has been a base, earning back to back goaltender of the year nominations. Top scorer and Ottawa native Rebecca Leslie is considered a potential franchise base. Key defenders have included the team's first ever draft pick Savannah Harmon, Ronja Savolainen, and Jocelyne Larocque. The team's first round draft picks also include Danielle Serdachny, Rory Guilday, and Vivian Jungels.
Sources and further reading
- Ottawa Charge (Wikipedia)
- Ottawa Charge | Home (thepwhl.com)
- What to expect from Ottawa Charge in opening phases of ... (ottawacitizen.com)
Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.
