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Ottawa Citizen
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Charge's expansion setbacks are the cost of PWHL's parity promise
Parity may be one of the PWHL's proudest achievements, but it's come at a steep price for the Ottawa Charge as the league continues its expansion process to Seattle and Vancouver this month. Article content Even though all six of the league's original franchises coughed up four players each during the exclusive free-agent window and expansion draft, Ottawa has seemingly been dealt one of the worst hands. Article content Article content In addition to losing a capable No. 1 goaltender in Emerance Maschmeyer and a potential offensive game-breaker in Danielle Serdachny last week in the signing window, the first two players taken off the expansion draft board on Monday night were coveted Charge defenders Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralová – foundational pieces who had anchored Ottawa's blueline since day one. Article content Article content The PWHL has heralded its competitive balance as one of its defining features, and rightfully so after two seasons of slim-margin hockey and year-to-year unpredictability. Now, Ottawa and the other original six franchises are experiencing the intended consequences of that promise of parity. Article content Article content The Charge, fresh off a run to the PWHL Finals, lost key pieces at each position of the lineup, and with little immediate relief in sight, the team now faces a daunting task to retool a roster that was given no favours by the league. Article content While their draft-night losses ended with Bell and Tejralová, having lost their maximum of four players, the damage to their defensive depth was done. Ottawa only has two defenders under contract for next season in Ronja Savolainen and 37-year-old Jocelyne Larocque, whose minutes and matchups will be tougher without Bell beside her. Article content Article content While GM Mike Hirshfeld said he considers restricted free agent Stephanie Markowski a lock to re-sign, there is certainly pressure to bring back free agents Jincy Roese and Zoe Boyd. Otherwise, the team's biggest strength through the playoffs is going to become a liability. Article content And although the team's forward group remains largely intact, it wasn't a particularly potent nucleus to begin with, having tied with the New York Sirens for the fewest goals scored last season. Subtracting the club's highest offensive upside player in Serdachny only makes it more crucial that Hirshfeld ensures that leading scorer and free agent Tereza Vanišová stays in Ottawa. Article content Since the expansion process kicked into gear at the start of the month, Hirshfeld's mantra has been about the long-term success of the league as a whole as it expands after just two seasons. Even as a GM witnessing Seattle and Vancouver pick his team apart, he's balanced the pain of losing foundational players with optimism for the league's future.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Liz Schepers' OT goal gives Frost their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with 2-1 win over Charge
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Liz Schepers scored 12 minutes into overtime and the Minnesota Frost won their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge on Monday night in Game 4. Each game in the best-of-five series went to at least one overtime and finished 2-1, with Game 3 going to triple overtime , the longest game in PWHL Finals history. The teams played 81 minutes, eight seconds of extra time in the series. The fourth game came exactly a year after Minnesota fell to Boston 1-0 in a Game 4 double overtime before going on the road to win the inaugural Walter Cup .
Fox Sports
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Liz Schepers' OT goal gives Frost their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with 2-1 win over Charge
Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Liz Schepers scored 12 minutes into overtime and the Minnesota Frost won their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge on Monday night in Game 4. Each game in the best-of-five series went to at least one overtime and finished 2-1, with Game 3 going to triple overtime, the longest game in PWHL Finals history. The teams played 81 minutes, eight seconds of extra time in the series. The fourth game came exactly a year after Minnesota fell to Boston 1-0 in a Game 4 double overtime before going on the road to win the inaugural Walter Cup. Katy Knoll went along the wall and fed Schepers in front of the net. Goaltender Gwyneth Philips parried the first shot but Schepers poked home the rebound to clinch back-to-back Walter Cup titles for the Frost. Maddie Rooney had 33 saves for Minnesota. Midway through the second period Claire Thompson pinched in from the left point and fed Kelly Pannek alone on the right side of the net. Pannek beat Philips high for her second playoff goal. The goal marked the first time in the finals the Charge trailed in regulation. The Charge trailed until the middle of the third period when Tereza Vanisova was left alone in front of the net and Danielle Serdachny fed her from below the end line. It was the first point of the postseason for Vanisova, who led Ottawa with 15 goals. Philips had 36 saves. The rookie had 148 saves in overtime in the postseason. Ottawa's Aneta Tejralova, on a rush, hit the left post with a shot about five minutes into overtime and the Frost's Taylor Heise hit the right post about four minutes later. ___ AP Women's Hockey: recommended in this topic
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liz Schepers' OT goal gives Frost their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with 2-1 win over Charge
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Liz Schepers scored 12 minutes into overtime and the Minnesota Frost won their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge on Monday night in Game 4. Each game in the best-of-five series went to at least one overtime and finished 2-1, with Game 3 going to triple overtime, the longest game in PWHL Finals history. The teams played 81 minutes, eight seconds of extra time in the series. The fourth game came exactly a year after Minnesota fell to Boston 1-0 in a Game 4 double overtime before going on the road to win the inaugural Walter Cup. ___ AP Women's Hockey: The Associated Press
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Liz Schepers' OT goal gives Frost their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with 2-1 win over Charge
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Liz Schepers scored 12 minutes into overtime and the Minnesota Frost won their second straight PWHL Walter Cup with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge on Monday night in Game 4. Each game in the best-of-five series went to at least one overtime and finished 2-1, with Game 3 going to triple overtime, the longest game in PWHL Finals history. The teams played 81 minutes, eight seconds of extra time in the series. The fourth game came exactly a year after Minnesota fell to Boston 1-0 in a Game 4 double overtime before going on the road to win the inaugural Walter Cup. Katy Knoll went along the wall and fed Schepers in front of the net. Goaltender Gwyneth Philips parried the first shot but Schepers poked home the rebound to clinch back-to-back Walter Cup titles for the Frost. Maddie Rooney had 33 saves for Minnesota. Midway through the second period Claire Thompson pinched in from the left point and fed Kelly Pannek alone on the right side of the net. Pannek beat Philips high for her second playoff goal. The goal marked the first time in the finals the Charge trailed in regulation. The Charge trailed until the middle of the third period when Tereza Vanisova was left alone in front of the net and Danielle Serdachny fed her from below the end line. It was the first point of the postseason for Vanisova, who led Ottawa with 15 goals. Philips had 36 saves. The rookie had 148 saves in overtime in the postseason. Ottawa's Aneta Tejralova, on a rush, hit the left post with a shot about five minutes into overtime and the Frost's Taylor Heise hit the right post about four minutes later. Women's Hockey: /hub/womens-hockey
