The 2026 Walter Cup finals are shifting to Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Montreal Victoire are only one win away from their first ever title, while the Ottawa Charge will fight for their playoff lives in front of a supportive home crowd.
The Montreal Victoire are only one win away from their first ever Walter Cup title. It would be the first for the franchise, the first ever for a Canadian team, and the first time a team other than the Minnesota Frost have won the Cup.
There's a lot on the line for the Victoire as the 2026 final shifts to the Canadian Tire Centre where the Ottawa Charge will look to ride the boost of their home crowd to stave off elimination.
Whether it's home ice, or playing as visitors, the game plan doesn't change for Montreal, who know they're up against a relentless Ottawa team who will leave nothing on the table for Game 3.
"It doesn't change for us, we know that they're good in their building, we know that they're a relentless fighting team as we've seen it in the past two games, and we know that the third win is going to be the hardest to get," said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. "We know that if if we outwork them, if we bring our talent to the table and if we utilize our depth, we're in a good position to set ourselves up for success."
The Charge however, have been to the finals before, and with both of the opening games going to overtime, ending in questionable fashion, luck has been on Montreal's side in the series to date. To get the third win and secure the Walter Cup title however, the Victoire will need more than luck; they'll need to work for it.
"You know that it's a good team on the other side and we're going to have to work for it," said Cheverie.
"I'm looking forward to playing in the Canadian Tire Centre, it's a great building," Cheverie added. "We've played in there a couple of times now. I know that their fans will show up for them and, you know, we'll have to bring our best game in order to win that one."
"We've Got Opportunity In Front Of Us"
Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod is a master of finding the positive, and despite the way Friday's Game 2 overtime ended with a missed call resulting in a goal, she was clear about what she saw for her team, "we've got opportunity in front of us."
MacLeod pointed to the fact that despite Ottawa trailing 2-0 in the series, they've haven't trailed a single second of the series. They've been in both games, and believe in the way they're playing.
"You just keep going. You know, we're finding ways to score goals in games. We're finding ways to win games throughout the playoffs here," said MacLeod. "We believe in what we do. Our brand of hockey is a phenomenal brand of hockey. These women, they put everything on the ice every single game and you just trust the process at this point in the season and we know good things will come our way."
Montreal can win the Walter Cup when the puck drops at 6pm on Monday.