Defying all the odds stacked against them, the Ottawa Charge became the first Canadian team to compete for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) coveted Walter Cup last season.
After barely sneaking into the playoffs, the Charge rallied against the top-seeded Montréal Victoire to book their ticket to the league finals. The only thing that stopped the underdogs from achieving a complete Cinderella season was the reigning champions, the Minnesota Frost.
But the Charge didn’t go down easily; all four games played in the final series went into overtime, each ending with a 2-1 score. Ottawa set the tone by winning Game 1, but Minnesota took the next three to defend their title and become the league’s first back-to-back Walter Cup champions.
As the PWHL gears up for the start of its third season today, Ottawa’s fanbase is hoping for another deep playoff run. With new challenges on the horizon, will the Charge be able to replicate the magic of last season and take home the Walter Cup?
Rebuilding the roster
Following this year’s league expansion to Vancouver and Seattle, the Charge are left with major gaps to fill in their roster. The expansion draft claimed defenders Aneta Tejralová and Ashton Bell, forwards Danielle Serdachny and Tereza Vanišová, plus starting goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.
Among the exodus of players are defender Zoe Boyd, along with forwards Shiann Darkangelo and Victoria Bach, who signed contracts with Boston, Montreal and Toronto, respectively.
Vanišová’s absence will likely be felt the most after racking up 15 goals and 22 points as the team’s top scorer in the 2024-25 season. She also led the PWHL with 38 penalty minutes, leaving Ottawa to find a substitute for her physical presence on the ice.
Players to watch
Gwyneth Philips: When Maschmeyer suffered a season-ending injury in March, rookie Philips was promoted from the Charge’s backup goalie to their starter. She finished the regular season with a 2.11 goals-against-average and a .919 save percentage, helping Ottawa to its first franchise playoff berth. The breakout star led the league with 257 saves in the postseason, a performance that earned Philips the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award, making her the first goalie to receive the title. With the Charge protecting her over Maschmeyer in the expansion draft, Philips is expected to remain a solid presence between the pipes from the get-go.
Rory Guilday: Drafted fifth overall this year, the 23-year-old defender is coming off a championship run with Cornell University, where she played a key role in capturing the program’s first NCAA Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) title since 2014. With 52 points and 62 penalty minutes logged over her four-year career, Guilday was a driving force for the Big Red. After losing a chunk of their defensive core, the Charge may have big asks for her early on. Guilday’s reliability on the blue line and winner mentality might be just what Ottawa needs to build off the momentum of last season.
Kateřina Mrázová: After multiple injuries forced her to miss half of the regular season, veteran forward Mrázová was activated from the Charge’s long-term injury reserve in April. Less than a month later, her overtime goal in the final regular season game against the Toronto Sceptres was the catalyst for Ottawa’s storybook run. While recording only seven points this season, Mrázová was the team’s leader in assists (12) and power-play goals (3) during the 2023-24 season. If she can stay healthy this year, her clutch ability could put the Charge back within reach of the Walter Cup.
This season
As the season looms near, it’s clear that Ottawa’s current roster is very different from the one Minnesota faced in the finals. The Charge have lost both their preseason games to the Sceptres, but that shouldn’t define their year. With eight teams in the league this season, they have plenty of time to regroup.
Still, it won’t be long until they face off against familiar names lost during the expansion: Maschmeyer, Vanišová, and Bell return to TD Place on Nov. 26 with the Vancouver Goldeneyes. The Charge will then head west on Dec. 17 to take on Tejralová, Serdachny, and the Seattle Torrent.
Ottawa will also play in four of the PWHL Takeover Tour games throughout the season, facing league opponents at neutral sites across Canada and the United States. This year, they’ll travel to Chicago, Halifax, Winnipeg and Calgary.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Charge have a deep roster and unwavering fan support. Aside from a shaky start, they have all the makings of a successful team. Whether the Charge are repeat Walter Cup contenders depends on how quickly they adapt to their new lineup and their ability to capitalize on big moments.
The Charge are set to face the New York Sirens in this Saturday’s home opener, who they went 4-for-6 last season. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
Featured photo supplied by PWHL
