PWHL Ottawa players and fans relished in an unforgettable inaugural season of professional women's hockey in the city, and are looking to the future, even if it remains uncertain in terms of the team's roster.

Inaugural seasons in professional sports are supposed to be the beginning of something special. Despite PWHL Ottawa failing to make the playoffs in their first season, there is pride for what PWHL Ottawa accomplished this season and already a palpable excitement for next season within the group of players and organization. Nevertheless, Ottawa is heading into their second season with their focus squarely on winning.

“This is the season I'll never forget,” said Brianne Jenner. “Obviously, we wanted a different finish. But I think there's just so much positive to take from this.”

PWHL Ottawa managed to grow a loyal fanbase at warp speed. Ottawa showed out more than any other team in the PWHL, averaging 7496 fans per game which was the highest average attendance in the PWHL.

“I remember going out for warmups in that first game and just having tears in my eyes trying to contain that excitement,” said Gabbie Hughes. “With the emotions of where women's hockey is at and having this league be so big and so many supporters it was it was everything I could ever dream of.”

The success of the PWHL combined with women finally being able to sustainably become professional hockey players will forever be remembered in tandem with this PWHL Ottawa season.

“The biggest thing for this year when I think about it and reflect on it's just the investment,” said Carla MacLeod. “Investment from the business side, the investment in the product, the investment in the people.”

With investment in the league comes criticism and hard questions that are needed to be asked about why PWHL Ottawa failed to make the playoffs, especially with three games where they could clinch a playoff spot.

“The reality is, we missed the playoffs. So we need to get better across the board. If we want to win a championship,” said Mike Hirshfeld GM of PWHL Ottawa.

Ottawa struggled with playing consistent hockey all season.

“Inconsistency is actually consistent," said MacLeod. “Those second periods that we had against New York late in the season and how do we manage that a little bit better, but that's part of the growing process.”

However, there can be so much to learn from the struggle of a team.

“The gift of losing, is that you look at everything with a critical eye,” said Brianne Jenner. “We learned the hard way how difficult it is to win in this league.”

A resounding theme from players and coaches was their need for added depth while cleaning up their defensive play that led them to have the second worst goals against in the PWHL last season.

“I look forward to having maybe a little bit more depth on the back end,” said Gabbie Hughes.

“We gave up too many goals this year. So, we need to get better defensively,” said Hirshfeld.

Next season, PWHL Ottawa will look dramatically different with a slew of talent entering the league via the PWHL draft. Ottawa only has nine players signed into next season with Brianne Jenner, Emerance Maschmeyer, Emily Clark, Hayley Scamurra, Jincy Roese, Savannah Harmon, Ashton Bell, Gabbie Hughes and Tereza Vanisova signed into next season.

Luckily for PWHL Ottawa fans, Ottawa will have the second overall pick and other high picks in a loaded draft class where they can add to their group.

“There's a lot of great players coming into this league through the draft, one thing I do know is that draft is incredibly deep,” said Hirshfeld.

“Players on our roster, who had significant minutes this year, will be in competition for jobs next year. That's how good the talent is gonna be," said Hirshfeld.

What’s clear is that Hirshfeld has brought together a team with amazing culture and unity. Player after player spoke about how much fun it was to come to the rink and how great the team dynamics were even if it did not translate to success on the ice.

“I would have rather lost with this team than won with any other team in the league,” said Hughes.

Hirshfeld believes culture is paramount to success on the ice.

“Culture is really important to us,” said Mike Hirshfeld. “We think that it ultimately drives winning, having that kind of culture. You rarely hear of a team winning where the culture is terrible.”

Someone who was essential to Ottawa’s culture of winning this season was Daryl Watts who scored 10 goal and 17 points. Watts is a free agent this summer. Watts was plain and simple about the prospects of returning to Ottawa.

“I'm a free agent now. That's the business of pro sports,” said Watts. “I will negotiate with Ottawa and other teams, and test the markets to see what the best fit will be for next year.”

If Watts does not return, it does seem as though Ottawa feels confident in terms of attracting talent to Ottawa.

“I think Ottawa is a destination for players in this league now because of what we built,” said Mike Hirshfeld.

Ottawa has become a destination with its fanbase, culture and squad. It has already become home for many of the Ottawa players, most notably the franchise’s captain Brianne Jenner who is laying down roots with her family. Meanwhile, she has also started a hockey camp for young girls and Ottawa, meanwhile throughout the season Jenner would go to local youth girl hockey teams to support.

“We are sticking around for the summer. My family loves it here.”

This PWHL Ottawa team will be known for starting the family of PWHL fans all across the city, and allowing young girls and boys to grow up within their own families enjoying women’s hockey in Ottawa. That is the story of PWHL Ottawa’s season even in defeat, putting women’s hockey on the map, centered in the nations capital.

“It is the first moment in women's hockey, where we've been able to exhale and be like, 'hey, we're really here,'” said MacLeod.