Ottawa’s new additions, Cava, McQuigge, and Greco, made their debut against New York, showing quick chemistry and fitting into the team’s pace and structure. While not flashy, their steady play and physical presence highlight why the Charge targeted them ahead of the playoffs.
They say that you only get one chance to make a first impression, and for Ottawa’s newest additions, they were able to do just that.
Michela Cava, Brooke McQuigge, and Emma Greco all made their Ottawa Charge debuts against the New York Sirens since coming over in Sunday’s trade with the Vancouver Goldeneyes. As expected, both McQuigge and Cava slotted into the middle six: McQuigge alongside Gabbie Hughes and Emily Clark, while Cava skated with Fanuza Kadirova and Kateřina Mrázová. Greco dressed as the seventh defender.
McQuigge’s speed stood out right away, giving Charge fans an early look at what she brings to the lineup. Even in her first game with a new team, she looked comfortable skating hard and making quick reads alongside her linemates.
Cava made her presence felt through physical play, which came as no surprise. Her willingness to battle in tight spaces showed why Ottawa saw her as a player who could add grit and intensity, something the Charge saw firsthand during last year’s Walter Cup Finals.
It was easy to see how quickly each developed chemistry with their linemates and adjusted to Ottawa’s structure. McQuigge clicked with Hughes and Clark early, helping spark the opening goal. Cava also fit nicely on the third line, complementing Mrázová and Kadirova, who both play a more aggressive style.
When it comes to Greco, she isn’t flashy, but she doesn’t need to be. She plays straightforward shifts that focus on her strengths. Ottawa brought her in to provide depth on the backend and add experience, qualities that matter as the team looks to return to the playoffs.
A debut doesn’t have to be perfect, just as this game wasn’t for the Charge. The trio didn’t light up the scoresheet, but McQuigge, Cava, and Greco showed enough to suggest they’re settling into Ottawa’s system. For a group adjusting to new faces and chemistry, that’s exactly what the Charge needed.