The Ottawa Charge announced Monday that the team has signed Gwyneth Philips to a two-year contract extension, locking up their starting goaltender through the 2027-28 season.
“I’m super excited to be staying in Ottawa. From the very start, I saw how special this city is and how supportive the fans are,” said Philips. “I’m so honoured to play in front of the best fans in the league and represent Canada's capital city. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue with this great program and embrace this wonderful city as my own. November can’t come soon enough!”
Getting this deal done was undeniably the most important piece of business for the club, as Philips proved to be an elite level goaltender in this league despite entering only her first professional season. Following a season ending injury to then-starter Emerance Maschmeyer back on March 11th, Philips took the reins and showcased the skillset which made her so successful during her collegiate career at Northeastern. She finished the regular season 8-5-1-0 with two shutouts, fifth in the league in goals against (2.11), and sixth in save percentage (.919). That success extended to the playoffs, where she went 4-0-4 with one shutout, and finished first in goals against (1.23), first in save percentage (.952), helping to lead the Charge to their first playoff appearance and a run to the Walter Cup final, where she was awarded the Ilana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player award.
“This is a very exciting day for our organization,” said Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld. “Anyone who watched the PWHL Playoffs last year saw what an incredible player Gwyneth is and how she can impact a game. When we drafted her, we believed that she had the ability to be one of the top goaltenders in the world, and after her performances last year, we are even more convinced. At her age, as she gains more experience in the PWHL and at the international level, we believe she can elevate her game even further. Gwyneth told me that she loved playing in Ottawa and this was a perfect fit for her. We are delighted to bring her back for three more seasons.”
Philips will start the season as the team's undisputed number one, with Logan Angers returning after signing a one-year contract, along with their fifth round selection Sanni Ahola, who also signed a one-year contract. The trio will be joined by Kendra Woodland, who received a camp invite earlier this offseason, ensuring that there will be intense competition for both the backup and third string roles on this team.
The team now has their starting goaltender, along with their 2025 first round selection Rory Guilday, under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, marking two key pieces to build long-term success around following a season which saw a team come together when it mattered most and unite a city in a way that showcased the best of the Nation's Capital.