Rebecca Leslie Is A Hometown Hero Turning Into A Hometown Legend

Rebecca Leslie's 2025-26 season is one that neither she, nor the City of Ottawa, will forget any time soon. 

In the regular season, Leslie tied for 5th in league scoring with 23 points in 30 games. 

For Leslie, who was born in Ottawa, it was the type of season that elevated her hometown hero status, and one that put her on the map among the league's best.

When Leslie's impact continued into the postseason, the hometown hero elevated her status even further. 

Leslie scored in Ottawa's Game 4 win over Boston to advance to the Walter Cup finals. 

Then, in Game 1 of the finals, Leslie scored both of Ottawa's goals in a 3-2 overtime loss.

But no moment stood out more than her Game 3 winner with under a minute to go in the third period of a 1-1 game. Leslie found a loose puck off a Sarah Wozniewicz chance and beat Ann-Renee Desbiens to give Ottawa the 2-1 win.  Doing it in front of a record playoff crowd of 16,894 is how legends are made.

"We're very fortunate, every goal that we score in Ottawa it feels like a big goal because our fans are so awesome, but definitely a top on my list for sure," Leslie said of her game winning goal. 

With Leslie, it's a back and forth where the crowd appreciates her play as a hometown leader, but Leslie also knows how special the moment was for her personally. 

"I'm at a loss for words, it's so special," said Leslie.

"It's such an honor to play for my hometown, to see a record breaking crowd, obviously growing up in Ottawa i've always know that' it's a hockey community, but t see the crowd come out every game whether it was at TD place or CTC it's just so special, and nothing kind of compares to how I felt in that moment, it was truly such an honor."

Give the crowd's reaction to Leslie's goal and her selection as first star of the game, the feelings are very mutual.