
‘Happy to get on a bus': Charge excited after playoff berth-clinching OT win
TORONTO - Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod is just happy to be getting on a bus next week.
Kateřina Mrázová scored 2:52 into overtime to lift Ottawa to a 2-1 regular-season finale win over the Toronto Sceptres and a playoff berth Saturday in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
It's the first time Ottawa is making the post-season in the PWHL's two years of existence. Last season, the Charge needed a regulation win to clinch a playoff spot but fell 5-2 to Toronto in their regular-season finale.
'Happy to get on a bus,' MacLeod said with a smile. 'For us, this league is so tight.
'The fact that today had the variables involved today, that five teams could have changed their positioning within the standings is just, kudos to the league.'
The Charge came in needing a win of any kind, or a Minnesota loss against Boston later Saturday, to secure a playoff spot.
Ottawa lost 3-0 to Minnesota on Wednesday with a chance to move six or seven points ahead of the Frost — with either an overtime/shootout win or a regulation win — and clinch a playoff spot.
'It's really exciting. A little bit of relief,' Mrázová said. 'I wanted to skate all the way back to (goaltender) Gwyneth (Philips), but at the same time the whole group was coming.
'Just really happy for the group, how we did the whole season, not just this game. Worked really hard, so really proud of everyone.'
Defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota defeated Boston 8-1 later Saturday to still be able to clinch a playoff spot. Ottawa, Minnesota and Boston all finished the regular season tied with 44 points, but Ottawa (12) and Minnesota (10) took the tiebreakers on regulation wins.
'This group is really special and we worked so hard tonight and I think we got the outcome that we deserve. So it feels good and we're looking forward to playoffs,' Charge defender Jocelyne Larocque said after the win over her former team.
Spending most of the season out of the playoff picture, Ottawa surged since the February international break. The Charge boasted a 7-2-2-4 record in that span, while averaging 2.93 goals per game.
Ottawa averaged 1.80 goals per contest before Feb. 11, the fewest in the PWHL.
'We're more playoff ready (this year),' Larocque said. 'Because I think last year (with Toronto), when you know that you made playoffs and I don't know, what February maybe last year we knew that we were making playoffs, so I think this just prepares the group better.
'And I feel really confident with this group that we're ready for playoffs because we've been making a really hard playoff push so I think it just gets you in the right mindset, your habits and your details. So I think it's a blessing to have to fight for a spot, honestly.'
Toronto had a playoff spot secured heading into Saturday. The Sceptres had a chance to steal first place with a regulation win, along with a New York regulation win later Saturday against first-place Montreal.
The top-seeded team entering the post-season gets its choice of opponent for the best-of-five semifinal series. Toronto will open the playoffs at home Wednesday, while Montreal starts Thursday with the opponents being determined Sunday evening.
'I would have loved to, you know, be sitting up tonight and having a beer and talking about who we're going to pick,' Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan said. 'It's a unique rule that the PWHL has put forth and I think it's, you know, there's a privilege and there's an honour there, right, that you get to select that opponent.
'Whether we made the right choice or wrong choice last year, I still would rather be in a position to pick the team than have someone pick it for you. So, you know, obviously hats off to Montreal for putting themselves in a situation where they can either set their team up for success or they can, you know, hand it to us.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2025.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter: Simone Biles, Riley Gaines debate trans athletes after softball controversy
PERSONAL ATTACK – Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles took aim at OutKick host and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines over her criticism of a Minnesota softball state championship. The two sparred over the debate surrounding trans athletes in girls' and women's sports, with Biles making a personal attack on Gaines' appearance. Continue reading… APOLOGY ACCEPTED – American gymnast Simone Biles issued an apology to "Gaines for Girls" host Riley Gaines days after she body-shamed the former University of Kentucky swimmer in a debate over the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports. Gaines invited Biles to join "the fight to support fair sports." Continue reading… UNDER REVIEW – USA Gymnastics (USAG) has removed pages from its website regarding its transgender eligibility policies and resources, telling Fox News Digital that the decision was made last month "to assess compliance with the current legal landscape." Continue reading… CONTESTED CHAMPS – A Minnesota high school softball team was named state champions on Friday after Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender player on the Champlin Park Rebels, pitched a complete-game shutout. Continue reading… ACCOUNTABILITY – The White House addressed the Champlin Park Rebels' state championship win over the weekend, noting that any state that violates President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order "will be held accountable." Continue reading… BITTERSWEET – New York Yankees legend Alex Rodriguez lamented Pete Rose's potential of being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2028, telling Fox News Digital that he wished it had happened during Rose's lifetime. Continue reading… NEWLYWED – Not long after revealing his intentions for the upcoming football season, newly signed Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared that he recently tied the knot. Continue reading… MARKETING OPPORTUNITY – UNC football coach Bill Belichick used questions about his personal life during a press conference this week to plug his new book as a potential Father's Day gift. Continue reading… COUNTDOWN BEGINS – With exactly one year away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Team USA legend Landon Donovan believes the pressure is on for the Americans as the host nation of next year's tournament. He also believes it's a good opportunity for soccer in the U.S. Continue reading… WATCH NOW – FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd discusses the expectations for Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh and why the veteran quarterback said signing with the Steelers was "good for his soul". Continue reading… FROM FOX SPORTS – New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs spoke to reporters for the first time since his controversial boat outing on Tuesday, but he declined to share the specifics of the talks he's had with the team and coach Mike Vrabel. Continue reading… Fox News FirstFox News Opinion ' Fox News FirstFox News Opinion


Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
Twins claim lefty Joey Wentz off waivers from Pirates
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins claimed left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, adding a reinforcement for their injury-thinned staff. The 27-year-old Wentz had a 4.15 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season for the Pirates, with 11 walks and 22 strikeouts in 26 innings. Wentz was designated for assignment or release on Saturday by the Pirates, who claimed him off waivers last September from the Detroit Tigers. He had a 4.68 ERA over a career-high 46 games between the Tigers and Pirates in 2024. Wentz, who made 26 starts over his first two major league seasons with the Tigers, will give the Twins a second lefty next to Danny Coulombe and additional depth for a bullpen that could be strained in the coming weeks in light of shoulder injuries last week that took out two members of the rotation, Pablo López and Zebby Matthews. To make room on the 40-man roster for Wentz, the Twins transferred López to the 60-day injured list. ___ AP MLB:

Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Twins claim lefty Joey Wentz off waivers from Pirates
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins claimed left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, adding a reinforcement for their injury-thinned staff. The 27-year-old Wentz had a 4.15 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season for the Pirates, with 11 walks and 22 strikeouts in 26 innings. Wentz was designated for assignment or release on Saturday by the Pirates, who claimed him off waivers last September from the Detroit Tigers. He had a 4.68 ERA over a career-high 46 games between the Tigers and Pirates in 2024. Wentz, who made 26 starts over his first two major league seasons with the Tigers, will give the Twins a second lefty next to Danny Coulombe and additional depth for a bullpen that could be strained in the coming weeks in light of shoulder injuries last week that took out two members of the rotation, Pablo López and Zebby Matthews. To make room on the 40-man roster for Wentz, the Twins transferred López to the 60-day injured list. ___ AP MLB: