Ottawa Charge 2025-2026 Season Review: Playoff Magic Comes Up Short

Thomas reviews the Ottawa Charge’s 2025-2026 PWHL season, from preseason struggles and an overtime-heavy regular-season run to a playoff appearance.

Ottawa eliminated Boston in four games before falling to Montreal in the Walter Cup Final, ending a memorable season just short of a championship.

In this episode:

• The Ottawa Charge’s motto, “High voltage, hockey powers forward,” and the fan energy that helped set attendance records, including 8,318 fans at the team’s first game and 13,736 at a neutral-site contest.
• Ottawa’s 2025-2026 roster, included captain Brianne Jenner, Gabby Hughes, Emily Clark, and goaltenders Gwyneth Philips, Kendra Woodland, Caitlin Ross, and Sanni Ahola.
• Coaching and management changes involving Carla MacLeod, acting head coach Haley Irwin, and general manager Mike Hirshfeld.
• A difficult preseason featuring a 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto and a 3-0 regulation loss to the Sceptres.
• Ottawa’s regular-season record: 9 regulation wins, 12 regulation losses, 8 overtime wins, and 1 overtime loss.
• Ottawa secured a playoff spot despite being close to elimination late in the regular season.
• The Charge’s first-round playoff series against Boston, which Ottawa won 3-1 after taking Game 4 by a 4-3 double-overtime score.
• The Walter Cup Final against the Montreal Victoire, where Ottawa lost the first two games in overtime, won Game 3, and was shut out 4-0 in Game 4.
• How Ottawa’s two Walter Cup appearances compare with the team’s previous playoff run against Montreal and Minnesota.
• Thomas names Gabby Hughes as his Ottawa Charge player of the season after her 5-goal, 11-assist, 16-point regular season.

Timestamps00:00 - Introducing the Ottawa Charge season review
01:24 - Ottawa’s team identity and inaugural fan support
03:11 - Attendance records and the energy at TD Place
05:53 - Ottawa’s 2025-2026 roster
08:18 - Coaching, management, and goaltending changes
10:13 - Plans for covering the expanded 12-team PWHL
14:21 - Ottawa’s place in the growing PWHL
17:10 - Preseason results against Toronto
19:04 - Comparing Ottawa’s preseason performances
21:24 - How Ottawa reached the postseason
22:12 - Ottawa’s 9-8-1-12 regular-season record
23:29 - Early-season results and the loss-heavy start
26:34 - Overtime wins against Minnesota and Toronto
28:32 - Previewing the postseason and player of the season
31:46 - Breaking down Ottawa’s complete regular-season record
33:39 - January wins over Minnesota and Vancouver
35:22 - Montreal, New York, and Seattle in January
38:10 - Ottawa’s final regular-season stretch
41:39 - Moving from the regular season to the playoffs
44:37 - Closing the regular season against Toronto, Montreal, and Seattle
48:19 - Ottawa opens the playoffs against Boston
49:35 - The best-of-five playoff format
50:04 - Ottawa eliminates Boston in double overtime
51:26 - The all-Canadian Walter Cup Final begins
52:20 - Montreal takes the first two games in overtime
53:16 - Ottawa wins Game 3 to stay alive
54:42 - Montreal wins the Walter Cup with a 4-0 shutout
57:03 - Comparing Ottawa’s two Walter Cup appearances
60:23 - Choosing Ottawa’s player of the season
61:20 - Why Gabby Hughes earns the honor
62:44 - Michelle Cava and other honorable mentions
64:35 - Looking ahead to the expanded 2026-2027 PWHL season
66:31 - Final thoughts for Ottawa Charge fans

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/home