For the second day in a row, the Ottawa Charge announce a signing that fans were waiting for. Friday morning, the team inked defender Rory Guilday, their first round selection, to a three-year Standard Player Agreement.

“I had a blast spending a couple of days in Ottawa after the draft and getting a taste of what life in the capital will be like, so it’s exciting to have made it official,” said Guilday. “I can’t wait to get back to Ottawa in the fall and join my teammates on the ice and play in front of the best fans in the league. November can’t come soon enough!”

Guilday began her hockey career as a centre before making a successful transition to the blueline. At 5’11”, she uses her size to her advantage, skating with power and playing a physical, shutdown style that fits very well into Ottawa’s system. She’s confident both with and without the puck, combining speed, vision, and a fearless approach to physical battles, both in front of the net and in the corners. Beyond her on-ice skillset, Guilday also brings valuable intangibles, most notably her leadership, having captained Cornell for two seasons while anchoring one of the NCAA’s top defensive units.

“We’re thrilled to get Rory into our lineup for the next three seasons,” said Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld. “We really like what she brings to the table. She’s a tall defender with a long reach, is tough and clears the front of the net, and plays exactly how we want to play. We think she will be a natural partner for Ronja Savolainen or Jocelyne Larocque. We’re excited about what she will bring off the ice, too. She’s an incredible person. For us, she was a home run pick.”

With this signing, only fourth round selection Peyton Hemp remains unsigned from the team's 2025 draft class and brings the total number of players heading to camp this year to 26, which includes five camp invites, ensuring competition at every position and a lot of excitement for Charge fans.