All 29 training camp roster players were available to the media on the opening day of PWHL training camps. Players are excited to rally around the Charge brand, but there’s also a consensus on missed opportunities from last season
All 29 training camp roster players were available to the media on the opening day of PWHL training camps. Players are excited to rally around the Charge brand, but there’s also a consensus on missed opportunities from last season
The Ottawa Charge training camp is underway at TD Place, and all 29 players on the team’s training camp roster were available to the media on Nov. 12.
Here’s what stood out on day one:
Team identity is critical
TD Place had no shortage of electricity through Ottawa’s inaugural season, but a name, logo and jersey means so much, according to the players.
"I love our name, our logo, the identity behind it and kind of the meaning behind where Charge came from,” Ashton Bell said. “Just excited to represent that and see the fans embody that as well and for them to be excited about something."
“It's really special for me to see it,” Kateřina Mrázová said of the logo and jersey. “I love the idea behind with the fans and they are charging us. So it's really exciting and I can't wait to put the jersey on and play in front of our fans.”
The crease is open to competition
GM Mike Hirshfeld made it clear that no position on the roster is settled, especially in net. Building from the net out seemed to be a top priority in the summer, when Ottawa drafted college star Gwyneth Philips and signed Logan Angers to support Emerance Maschmeyere and shore up the position after Sandra Abstreiter departed.
“We have some young goalies that we are excited about their potential, and I think Masch will be a great mentor for them,” Hirshfeld said. “But we also realize there's 30 games this year, and so she can't play every game, and we're going to need Gwyneth to play, and maybe Logan to play. And Allie Lehmann, who's here, is our fourth goalie, and she has a shot to make the team, too. So I think we're really proud and feeling good about our goalie room.”
Defender Aneta Tejralová agreed that more competition in the net could help Maschmeyer and the team at large.
“I think it's good to have some goalies for Masch that she can take a rest a little bit maybe during the season,” she said.
‘Unfinished business’ from last season
Ottawa’s inaugural season was in many ways a slam-dunk success, but that didn’t exactly extend to on-ice results. The team finished three points out of a playoff position, and suffered a league-high six overtime losses. The mood is high entering this season, but that doesn’t mean last year’s disappointment has been forgotten.
“It feels like we have an unfinished business here from last season,” Mrázová said.
Top-pair defender Savannah Harmon said the team is focused on bringing a “pro mindset” “every night.”
“We're excited to go to work and contribute and be a part of this team and help move us forward and get us into the playoffs,” Harmon said.
Ashton Bell said the injection of talent and depth into the top and bottom of the lineup is key.
“There's so much talent in the league in general and in our group now,” Bell said. “I think we have a lot of depth on the back end and on the forward end so that's really exciting and everyday is going to be high intensity, high compete, trying to make the roster for this group.”
Czech players energized by Euro Hockey Tour wins
The Czech representation has been strong for Ottawa since last September. Mrázová and Tejralová were there from the beginning, and the addition of Teresa Vanišová via trade last season has made Canada’s capital the hotspot for Czech talent.
“It's been two years that we are together and we have known each other for many years,” Tejralová said of Vanišová and Mrázová, the latter of which is her roommate in Ottawa. “So that's great to have two Czech players here with me. We can talk, we can speak in our language. So it's good, but we enjoy to be back in Ottawa.”
Combine it with head coach Carla MacLeod serving as the Czech national team coach since 2022, and it’s a very comfortable environment for the Czech trio. And now after going undefeated at the Lidl Hockey Games, the Swedish leg of the 2024-25 Women's Euro Hockey Tour, they have some extra confidence to boot.
“It’s obviously really nice to play for the national team and play some games, especially when the offseason is so long, so I’m happy about that and I think it actually helped us a little bit get more into the games, those past three games with our national team, so hopefully we gonna be like ready to play since the beginning,” Vanišová said.