Ottawa Charge rookie Danielle Serdachny looking for 'confidence boost' in return to worlds

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Great expectations followed Danielle Serdachny into her first season with the Ottawa Charge.

They were born leading into an outstanding NCAA career at Colgate University, where she scored 238 points (including 81 goals) in 180 games over five years.

They grew when the 23-year-old Edmonton native netted the OT winner in the gold-medal game at last year’s women’s world hockey championship final for a 6-5 victory over the Americans in Utica, N.Y. — right in their own backyard.

And they were recognized when Serdachny was selected second overall, after the New York Sirens picked Princeton’s Sarah Fillier, at last year’s PWHL draft in St. Paul, Minn.

The thing about great expectations is they can sometimes take a while to reach fruition.

Not for Fillier, who is second in league scoring with 27 points (12 goals) in 27 games, but certainly in the case of Serdachny.

Her name is 49th on the PWHL’s list of leaders and, with just eight points (two goals) in 27 games, she is tied for ninth in Charge scoring.

Serdachny realizes as well as anyone that she has not lived up to the surrounding hype in her first year as a pro.

“I would say it’s been OK,” she said in evaluating her play before leaving for the 2025 world championship, which begins next week in Czechia. “I mean, anytime you’re entering a new league, there are a lot of expectations on you. So when you feel like you’re falling a little bit short of those, it can be a bit disappointing at times.

“But I’m hoping to stick with it here, and I’m hoping the worlds can give me a little bit of confidence to finish off the season strong here with Ottawa.”

Those expectations, she admits, include those she has of herself.

“I would say a little bit,” Serdachny said when asked if she has fallen short of where she thought she’d be at this point. “Obviously, you want to help the team win and if that’s not being in a playoff position, you’re constantly pushing towards that. So I’m just going to continue to make myself better on the ice and off the ice every single day. And yeah, keep pushing.”

Watching her play, it’s hard to imagine Serdachny will not reach her potential.

At 5-foot-9, she is one of the bigger Charge forwards and she looks strong and talented when carrying the puck.

But it seems her desire to make things happen also works against her at times.

Serdachny has been known to carry the puck too long, perhaps because her numbers have put her on the third line with less-gifted forwards, and as a result she has been guilty of giveaways that contribute to a plus-minus rating (-5) that is tied for second-worst on the team.

Although she doesn’t admit it, Serdachny must be frustrated that she’s not getting the same opportunities to flourish as Fillier, who plays on New York’s first line and is prominent on the team’s power play.

“I would say a lot more outsiders (follow Fillier’s stats) do than me,” Serdachny said, “but obviously you read them and you see her on the TV … so I’m really happy for her, she’s doing great there with New York. But I’m just kind of trying to focus on myself at this point and helping the team win.”

More production from Serdachny and more wins for the Charge would figure to go hand-in-hand.

Ottawa enters the three-week break for the world championship in the PWHL’s fourth and final playoff spot, one point ahead of the Minnesota Frost.

At the same time, the Charge also is tied for last in goals for with 66.

A not-so-bold prediction: Serdachny will get that confidence boost playing with Canada’s best in Czechia and she will return to be a catalyst for the Charge in their final three games of the season.

“I’m definitely really excited,” she said of heading to the 11-day global tournament. “It’s a unique situation, near the end of the season, but being able to go and represent my country is exciting. We’re hoping for another gold medal.

“I think it’s a good break in a way,” Serdachny added of the interruption in the PWHL playoff drive. “It’s a long season and there’s a lot to it, but I know our group, whether they’re at Worlds or back here in Ottawa, is going to be working hard regardless.

“We obviously have that goal of making the playoffs in mind, so we’re going to keep pushing towards that every day when we get back.”