Fans of the Ottawa Charge were not pleased when leading scorer Tereza Vanisova was assessed a $500 fine from the PWHL. They responded with kindness donating $13 for every goal scored to the Capital City Condors, quickly collecting thousands for the club.
Ottawa Charge fans have disagreed with the fines and suspensions given to their leading scorer, Tereza Vanisova. Charge fans feel the league has selectively punished Vanisova for plays that are let go against other players, including when the Czechia national team star is on the receiving end.
Most recently, Vanisova was fined $500 for a boarding call against the New York Sirens last week. When this happened, Ottawa's largest fan group, the Red Scarf Union, decided to give back to their community, since they can't give back to Vanisova herself.
"Since players are not allowed to accept cash or gifts of high value, we are going to do a bit of good in lieu of paying for the fine," wrote Tris Sparling, the Community Manager of RSU.
In support of Vanisova, members of Red Scarf Union are pledging to donate $13, which is Vanisova's jersey number, for every goal she scores this season. The benefactor of those donations will be the Capital City Condors, a hockey organization in Ottawa for young athletes with disabilities.
Founded in 2008, the Condors also feature the world's only all-girls adaptive hockey team. Members of the Condors skated during intermission at the Ottawa Charge's game against New York where Vanisova's fine was assessed.
After earning her fine from the PWHL, Vanisova found the back of the net in her next game. Sparling posted her own donation, and quickly Ottawa fans followed. The result? In 24 hours Ottawa Charge fans had raised $3043 for the Capital City Condors in response to Vanisova's punishment from the PWHL.
Any fan from across the PWHL or women's hockey world who wishes to donate to support the Capital City Condors, including the world's only adaptive girls hockey team, can make their donation here, at the bottom of the Condors' contact page.