Ottawa Charge advance to PWHL final after eliminating Montreal Victoire

The Ottawa Charge have secured their spot in the Walter Cup final, where they will compete for the Professional Women’s Hockey League championship. In a thrilling matchup against the Montreal Victoire, Emily Clark’s third-period goal proved to be the difference as Ottawa emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. The Charge clinched the best-of-five semifinal series with a 3-1 lead.

As the third seed in the playoffs, Ottawa will now face off against the reigning champions, the Minnesota Frost, who defeated the Toronto Sceptres in the other semifinal. The highly anticipated final is set to kick off on Tuesday in the nation’s capital.

Head coach Carla Macleod expressed the team’s excitement and determination, stating, “Obviously, it’s just one step in this journey that we have of trying to win a Walter Cup but it was an important step, and it was a special step.”

Despite being the top seed, the Montreal Victoire struggled to find their offensive rhythm throughout the series, being outscored 9-6 by Ottawa. A disappointed Marie-Philip Poulin reflected on her team’s playoff shortcomings, acknowledging the need for introspection and improvement moving forward.

In a game where goaltending played a pivotal role, rookie Gwyneth Philips shone brightly for Ottawa, making 19 saves and outperforming her counterpart, Ann-Renee Desbiens. Ottawa native Rebecca Leslie set the tone early with a goal just two minutes into the first period, giving the Charge an early lead.

Montreal mounted a strong effort, particularly on the power play in the second period, but were unable to solve Philips. Clark’s goal early in the third period extended Ottawa’s lead, though Montreal managed to cut the deficit with a late goal from Maureen Murphy.

Despite a late surge from Montreal, Ottawa remained composed and resilient, ultimately securing the win and a spot in the final. With the crowd rallying behind them, the Charge held off a final push from Montreal to emerge victorious.

As the final seconds ticked away, Clark reflected on the team’s unity and the support from the Ottawa community, emphasizing the special bond that drives them forward. The Charge now look ahead to the championship showdown against Minnesota, ready to give their all in pursuit of the Walter Cup.