OTTAWA — The Ottawa Charge have a revitalized roster, a new identity and a redefined mentality heading into the Professional Women's Hockey League's second season.
After missing the playoffs by just three points in the league's inaugural season, Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod painted a clear picture of the Charge's mindset during training camp.
“The Ottawa Charge mentality is one built on relentlessness,” MacLeod said.
MacLeod said that relentless identity particularly focuses on one aspect of the game.
“The physical piece,” MacLeod said. “We've got to be the team that embraces it the most and loves that side of the game because we know it's now a part of the game.”
The Charge pounced on the opportunity to strengthen areas of need in the off-season, especially through the draft.
“We're all aligned on the way we want to play and where we can get better from last year,” Ottawa general manager Mike Hirshfeld said. “Compete level, toughness, physicality, attention to details, particularly in our defensive zone, those are areas we wanted to improve on, and our draft and our free agency class was focused on those attributes.”
With the second overall pick, Ottawa selected high-flying forward Danielle Serdachny as its next franchise cornerstone. Serdachny excelled at Colgate University in the NCAA, producing 22 goals and 61 points in 40 games last season.
The 23-year-old from Edmonton already flashed her game-breaking talent during the pre-season, scoring a coast-to-coast goal against the Montréal Victoire last Friday. On top of her elite skills, Serdachny fits the Charge's mould as a relentless, physical force on the ice.
“Throughout college and where I’ve played, I’ve always been kind of a physical player,” said Serdachny, who scored the overtime winner in Canada's gold-medal win over the U.S. at this year's world championships.
Serdachny’s highly skilled and physical play during training camp had Hirshfeld impressed.
“We're delighted with Danielle,” Hirshfeld said. “It helps us with the size and the physicality that we wanted.”
Ottawa found another perfect match in Finnish defender Ronja Savolainen at eighth overall. The five-foot-10 blueliner had 29 points in 35 games for Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) champions Lulea HF last season.
Strong on both sides of the puck, Savolainen represents the identity MacLeod and Hirshfeld are hoping to draw out of the Charge this season.
“I want to show I'm a physical player, the coaches can trust me in whichever situation they put me in,” Savolainen said. “So, I want to be a tough player to play against.”
Star netminder Emerance Maschmeyer played 23 games last season, more than any other goalie in the league. Ottawa drafted Gwyneth Philips in the third round to provide a little relief.
Philips broke records during her time with the Northeastern Huskies in the NCAA. She set new single-season program records in 2022-23 with 34 wins, 38 games played and 2,272 minutes. Most impressive is her NCAA-record career save percentage of .958 over five seasons with the Huskies.
Hirshfeld wouldn't speculate about the workload Philips will take on this season, but said “she’s definitely going to play.”
“We didn't draft her to sit on the bench, let's just say that,” Hirshfeld said. “She has got to play to get better and Masch can't play 30 games.”
The Charge endured their biggest loss of the off-season when top goal-scorer Daryl Watts signed with the Toronto Sceptres on the first day of free agency in June.
Watts was a spark plug for Ottawa last season, producing 10 goals and 17 points in 24 games.
Ottawa signed forward Rebecca Leslie and goaltender Logan Angers in free agency. Forward Taylor House and blueliners Jessica Adolfsson and Sam Isbell, all training camp invitees, also cracked the final 23 players and three reserves.
Along with the relentless mentality, MacLeod said the Charge’s next challenge is raising their compete level.
“We have to want to be the toughest team to play against and with that, that's never the glory,” MacLeod said. “Those aren't the easy minutes to play but they're the most critical when you're trying to win a championship, and our group knows it.”
ROSTER CHANGES
Additions: Rebecca Leslie (F), Mannon McMahon (F), Anna Meixner (F), Danielle Serdachny (F), Alexa Vasko (F), Taylor House (F), Markowski (D), Savolainen (D), Sam Isbell (D), Jessica Adolfsson (D), Gwyneth Philips (G), Logan Angers (G)
Departures: Daryl Watts (F), Akane Shiga (F), Becca Gilmore (F), Kristen Della Rovere (F), Fanni Garát Gasparics (F), Victoria Howran (D), Emma Buckles (D), Audrey-Ann Veillette (D), Madeline Wethington (D), Allie Lehmann (G)
GAMES TO WATCH
Ottawa plays its season opener at Montreal on Saturday, followed by a home opener at TD Place against Toronto on Tuesday.
The Charge then host the Victoire at the Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, on Dec. 6.
Ottawa will also has four games on the PWHL's "Takeover Tour." The Charge will play the Victoire in Quebec City on Jan. 19, the Sceptres in Edmonton on Feb. 16, the Minnesota Frost in Raleigh, N.C., on March 7 and the Boston Fleet in St. Louis on March 29.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2024.
David Cummings, The Canadian Press
