PWHL Year 1 was a success, but Ottawa Charge now aims to 'clinch playoff spot and win'

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After finally cracking a barrier that stood between talented women hockey players becoming paid professionals, the big picture was the primary focus of the PWHL in Season 1.

Now it’s time for teams and their players to direct their attention to their mirrors.

The league and its players were the big winners last year as fans not only turned out, but also embraced the product.

But at the end of the 24-game regular season schedule, the two teams to miss the playoffs were Ottawa (by three points) and New York (by nine).

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When the Charge takes the TD Place ice at training camp Thursday morning for the first time as a full group, the mission will clear.

“Clinch that playoff spot,” goalie Emerance Maschmeyer said, “and win.”

Competition for roster spots with the Charge will be stiff.

Of the 29 players to take the ice on Day 1 of camp, only 23 will survive the final cutdown date of Nov. 27.

With 19 returnees and seven draft picks that arrive with high expectations, there may be a surprise or two when GM Mike Hirshfeld and coach Carla MacLeod make their decisions in two weeks.

“I think it’s really exciting,” captain Brianne Jenner said. “We brought in a lot of great pieces in this off-season and great players in the draft as well. Really excited to hit the ice for the first time with those players and just build that chemistry.”

And focus less on the big picture and more on the team and the mission.

“This whole league was a marathon that turned into a sprint very quickly,” alternate captain Emily Clark said, reflecting on season one. “There was so much newness, so much excitement. I mean, it’s historic. You can’t look over the fact that we created something as big as we did last year, you have to celebrate those moments.

“Even in some tough losses … I remember losing our first home game in overtime, it stunk, it hurt, but it was about the first game and there are so many positives to take from all that.

“But you’re a competitor and you want to win at the end of the day. Of course, you want the league to grow and continue to do big things, historic things, but I think we’ll probably be a bit more focused on our own group this season.

“Everything’s perspective,” Clark added. “It’s no different than our last game of last season. It was heartbreaking, our season ended, but it was impossible not to still think of all the positive things from last year. Yeah, I think there will be a bit more focus on the Charge this year.”

Clark referred to “a pretty incredible core group of players that are back” as well as “some exciting new faces” that will hit the ice on Thursday.

But, all in all, there will be some familiarity because it is Year 2.

“Last year was so new,” Clark said. “Everything was a blank canvas and there was so much learning. I think it’s nice to have a pretty big number of players coming back that can kind of continue to build on that foundation. But I think it’s super important that we learn from last year and recognize that this is a new group, a new team, the same goal.

“So bringing in those new players, having their voices heard, encouraging them just to be themselves, trusting Carla and Mike … they did a ton of work in the off-season, that everyone here at training camp is here for a reason, and is going to help us win.”

The league is expected to continue its growth. There’s a lineup of interest as two new teams will be added for Season 3.

“I think last year was an amazing success and I think I don’t think our team or the league wants to be complacent,” Jenner said. “We want to keep building a product where more and more people are excited to come to a game, watch it on TV. I think we just want to continue to make an inclusive environment and an entertaining environment where people want to be in their seats.

The learning point from Year 1, she said, is that it’s hard to win in this league.

“I think there’s a lot that we have to build on with this group from last year,” Jenner said. “I think one thing that stood out about our group is that we were a difficult team to play against, really physical, very fast. I think we want to continue to build around that and figure out ways to create more offence and be able to shut down teams.

“Certainly, I think we’ve done a lot of great work in this off-season and obviously there’s a lot of work ahead, and we’re just really excited for that journey. We know every team is going to have some up and ups and downs this year. It’s a long hockey season and we’re just looking forward to tackling all those challenges together.

“For us here in Ottawa, I think what happened in Year 1 was really exciting, and the fan base that we built here in Ottawa was unbelievable,” Jenner added. “But I think we’re coming in feeling pretty motivated. We have a group that we really believe can achieve great things, great people in our staff, great people in our dressing room.

“So I think we’re coming in knowing we have a bit of unfinished business, and just really excited to get to work.”