Ottawa Charge advances to PWHL final after upset of Montreal Victoire at packed TD Place
After sneaking into the playoffs in the final game of the regular season, the Ottawa Charge is now soaring into the Professional Women's Hockey League championship series.
Article content
Rebecca Leslie scored a tone-setting goal at the two-minute mark and rookie goalie Gwyneth Philips once again rose to the occasion as Ottawa completed a first-round upset of the first-place Montreal Victoire with a 2-1 victory in front of 8,012 fans at The Arena at TD Place.
Article content
Article content
The largest crowd to witness a PWHL playoff game this year saw the Charge, which finished third in the regular season, close out the Victoire in the best-of-five series, 3-1.
Article content
Article content
The Charge will have home ice advantage in a best-of-five final against the defending Walter Cup-winning Minnesota Frost, which starts Tuesday (7 p.m.) at TD Place.
Article content
If necessary, the fifth and final game will be played Wednesday, May 28, at TD Place.
Article content
Emily Clark wheeled around Victoire star Marie-Philip Poulin to give the Charge a cushion 31 seconds into the third period, while Philips lost her bid for a second straight shutout when Maureen Murphy scored with 5:02 left.
Article content
But despite some frantic moments around the Ottawa net, Montreal couldn't come up with the equalizer.
Article content
The Victoire tinkered with its top line, moving Lina Ljungblom to Jennifer Gardiner's spot alongside Poulin and Laura Stacey, but it wasn't a recipe for success.
Article content
Article content
Philips stopped 19 shots, while being tested just four times in the third, while Ann-Renee Desbiens made 20 saves in the Victoire net.
Article content
Montreal jumped onto the attack right from the opening faceoff but the Charge took advantage of an opening in the coverage for a 2-on-1 break, with Leslie passing to Anna Meixner, then driving to the net to bang the rebound from her linemate's shot into a wide-open net.
Article content
Leslie, the lone locally born player on the Charge, had just one goal and two assists in 27 games this season, her first with the team.
Article content
While Philips was extending her shutout streak through a fifth period, her teammates had a couple of chances to build on the lead.
Article content
But after Kristin O'Neill was called for tripping Danielle Serdachny early in the middle frame, the Charge failed to convert the night's first power play. And just past the 11-minute mark, Tereza Vanisova was stopped on a breakaway by Desbiens, who also got a pad on Brianne Jenner's attempt to slide in the rebound.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
After former Leafs and Blue Jays players, CRA now goes after ex-Raptors star Norman Powell
OTTAWA — On Feb. 4, 2022, former Toronto Raptors star guard Norman Powell received two pieces of news that would have a major impact on his life. Article content The first was from his agent telling him that he was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Los Angeles Clippers. Article content The second was from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) claiming over $1.2 million in additional income tax on 'inducements' paid by the Raptors in 2019 and 2020 to attract the star two-way guard to the surging Toronto team. Article content Article content Powell, who was part of the Raptors' 2019 championship team, is now appealing the CRA's decision in the Tax Court of Canada. Article content Article content Powell's faceoff with the tax agency is over the same issue as ex-Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau and John Tavares, namely that his nearly $7 million in signing inducements should be taxed at only 15 per cent and not at the top income tax bracket (over 50 per cent). Article content A key question for the court to determine is if the inducement offered by the Raptors Powell's contract to entice him to Toronto fits the definition of an 'inducement' under the U.S.-Canada treaty that sets the tax rate at 15 per cent. Article content The case, like Marleau and Tavares', could have a significant impact on how Canadian professional sports teams use signing bonuses or salary inducements as a tax incentive to attract foreign athletes to Canada instead of lower-taxed American organizations. Article content Powell's lawsuit argues that the millions in inducements he signed with the Raptors to attract him to Toronto are covered by provisions of a Canada-U.S. tax treaty which set the tax rate for an 'inducement to sign an agreement' at 15 per cent. Article content Article content 'The Toronto Raptors and the Appellant (Powell) both understood that the Inducement was a key component of the Appellant's decision to sign' with the Canadian team, reads the appeal. Article content Article content But, per Powell, the CRA disagreed. On Feb. 4, 2022, the agency issued notices of assessment to him for 2019 and 2020 that taxed his inducement payments at the ordinary federal and provincial income tax rates (likely over 50 per cent) instead of 15 per cent. Article content 'The Toronto Raptors agreed to pay the Inducement to entice the Appellant 'to sign an agreement relating to the performance of' his services as an 'athlete',' Powell wrote, saying that CRA's arguing otherwise is 'to distort the legal and economic reality' of his contract with the Raptors. Article content Powell objected to the CRA, which he says accepted his objections 'in full' on March 1, 2024. Article content But then to Powell's surprise, six days later the CRA issued a reassessment that once again considered his inducements to be taxable at the full federal and provincial tax rates instead of 15 per cent.
Toronto Star
9 hours ago
- Toronto Star
PWHL Vancouver signs former Frost defenders Thompson, Jaques as club's first players
VANCOUVER - Vancouver's new Professional Women's Hockey League team has signed its first player, nabbing defender Claire Thompson from the Minnesota Frost. The two-time Walter Cup champions left the 27-year-old defender exposed and Vancouver inked her to a one-year contract when the exclusive signing window opened to expansion teams on Wednesday. Vancouver later announced the signing of Thompson's Frost teammate and fellow blueliner Sophie Jaques to a three-year contract.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- CTV News
Ottawa hosting student athletes for Special Olympics Ontario
This week, the City of Ottawa is alive with energy with high school athletes and educators taking the stage for the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships. The event not only celebrates the power of sport, but it also empowers athletes of all capabilities in inclusive competition. Over 1,200 athletes are competing in five sports, basketball, bocce, floorball, soccer and track and field. The three-day event is hosted by the Ottawa Police Service. 'In Ontario, we have police services host our games for us. So, a huge shout out to the Ottawa Police Service led by Chief Eric Stubbs,' said Cody Jansma, Special Olympics Ontario president and CEO. 'They hosted this game's fundraiser year-round, (and) the provincial government they gave us funding this year for unified champion schools.' Special Olympics Student athletes playing soccer on June 4, 2025.(Kimberley Fowler/ CTV News Ottawa) School from across the province are in the capital to compete from June 3 to 5. 'A lot of these students … it's the first time they've competed for the school,' said Jansma. 'It might be the first time they've been on a team in general, and definitely the first time they've travelled away from mom and dad. And they're staying in the dorms here at Carlton University which has been a great host, so it's just an incredibly inspiring event that showcases what's truly great in the world of sports.' Simon Lim plays bocce and represents Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute in Toronto. He is one of the Special Olympians playing for a medal. 'Hopefully, I win this thing. I need it,' said Lim. While giving himself a pat on his back, he adds 'I will be happy, and I will be proud of myself.' Special Olympics Student athletes playing Floorball at Earl Armstrong Arena on June 4, 2025.(Kimberley Fowler/ CTV News Ottawa) Athletes either compete in the Traditional Division where all athletes have an intellectual disability or in the Unified Division that promotes inclusion where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities competing on the same team. 'It doesn't really matter because we all just have fun. It's just about having fun here and breaking barriers,' said unified athlete and basketball player Pratheep Sayanthan. 'It's just been really fascinating for me to see how so many people can come together to make such a unified community and help them breakdown social barriers that athletes like Simon might have to face everyday.' These games are not only for the students. Jennifer Kil leads the physical education program at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute and says: 'I've been very fortunate to be apart of the Special Olympics Unified Program since about 2016. Every year I come, and I see the opening ceremonies get bigger and bigger and bigger. It is phenomenal, which means that we're doing the things that we need to do ensure that inclusion happens for all our students.' Kil says the bonds made by teammates go beyond the games. 'It could be something as simple as a high five in the hallways. It could be something as simple as having lunch together. And those are things that might not have happened before and now it's the main at our school,' Kil said. Lim and Sayanthan say their goal is to make the finals again next year in London, Ont. The 2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships wraps up with the medal presentations and closing ceremonies on Wednesday. Special Olympics Ontario Student athletes playing Floorball at Earl Armstrong Arena on June 4, 2025.(Kimberley Fowler/ CTV News Ottawa) Special Olympics Ontario Student athletes playing Floorball at Earl Armstrong Arena on June 4, 2025.(Kimberley Fowler/ CTV News Ottawa)
