The Ottawa Charge are moving to a bigger stage. The team announced that the Canadian Tire Centre will serve as its primary home venue starting in the 2026-27 season. That shift carries major implications for the PWHL schedule 2026 and beyond.
PWHL Schedule 2026 Shifts with New Venue
After three seasons at TD Place, the Charge will now play all home games in the NHL-caliber arena. The venue will also double as the team's official practice facility and training center.
The move comes as TD Place enters a redevelopment phase. But, it's also a direct response to fan demand in the nation's capital.
In six appearances at Canadian Tire Centre, the Charge averaged 13,641 fans per game. That figure includes a crowd of 17,114 for an April 3 match against the Montreal Victoire, along with a PWHL playoff record of 16,894 on May 18.
Ottawa Charge Ready to Break More Attendance Records
GM Mike Hirshfeld said the relocation allows the club to welcome more fans while improving the player experience.
"TD Place was the foundation of our early success, and we’re deeply grateful for the energy our fans brought to every game in that building," Hirshfield said. "In the playoffs, we witnessed that they could recreate that magic at CTC, and we’re looking forward to continuing to build momentum in our new home."
In other PWHL news tied to the transition, deposits for new 2026-27 season ticket memberships are already open.
The Montréal Victoire sealed the deal last night, lifting its first-ever Walter Cup trophy with Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Ottawa Charge.
The 3-1 series came down to the wire, as Montréal scored three times in Game 4’s final 10 minutes to put the title out of the Charge’s reach.
“I tried to live through every moment,” said Montréal Head Coach Kori Cheverie.
“There were highs, there were lows, and we were able to kind of get through all of those adversity moments as a team. Whatever team we had on the ice was a team we were able to win with, so it’s been absolutely amazing with this group.”
Montréal’s Marie-Philip “Captain Clutch” Poulin won Playoff MVP. She racked up a record-tying eight postseason points after falling just short of Olympic gold with Canada earlier this year.
“It’s been a tough year, I’m not going to lie, since February,” she said after the win.
“It was ups and downs, coming back to this group, just fighting through. It hasn’t been easy — injuries, sickness, a lot of things — but we stuck together. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy in this building when we showed up today, but we remained patient with our game.”
The Ottawa Charge kept its championship dreams alive on Monday night, defeating Montréal Victoire 2-1 in Game 3 of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals.
Facing elimination, Ottawa rallied with two late third-period goals to stave off a sweep in the best-of-five championship series. Although Montréal still holds a 2-1 series lead, Ottawa’s dramatic comeback now forces a pivotal Game 4.
A playoff-record crowd of 16,894 fans watched the battle unfold. Both teams played scoreless hockey through the first two periods, as goaltenders Gwyneth Philips and Ann-Renée Desbiens protected their nets.
Montréal broke the ice nearly halfway through the third period as Hayley Scamurra capitalized on a rebound off the back boards to give the Victoire a 1-0 lead. That goal put Montréal just minutes away from capturing the 2026 Walter Cup trophy.
But Ottawa refused to fold under pressure.
Late Goals Save Ottawa Charge in 2026 Walter Cup Finals Win
With five and a half minutes remaining in regulation, Charge rookie Peyton Hemp scooped up a loose puck. She subsequently slipped it past a sprawling Desbiens to tie the game with her first-ever playoff goal.
That momentum shift spurred Ottawa native Rebecca Leslie to fire a shot through heavy traffic — with just 56 seconds left on the clock.
The puck found the back of the net, triggering chaos in the arena. Officials reviewed the play for a potential hand pass, but the goal stood.
"We're not done yet," Leslie told press. "We've just had a no quit attitude all year, and this group is really special. I'm speechless. It's just such an honor to play for this city. We have the best fans in the league."
Where to Watch Montréal vs Ottawa in PWHL Finals Game 4
The Victoire still lead the PWHL finals series 2-1, meaning the Charge needs another win to keep its quest for the 2026 Walter Cup on track.
Game 4 kicks off on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, live on ION.
Montréal is one win away from its first PWHL title, holding a towering 2-0 lead over Ottawa after this weekend’s best-of-five Walter Cup finals slate.
Games 1 and 2 both went to overtime, with the Victoire taking Thursday’s opener 3-2 off an Abby Roque game-winner, before securing Saturday’s 2-1 victory courtesy of Maggie Flaherty.
“We’ve been a team all year that has defended by committee and as a collective, they did the job in both ends of the rink today,” said head coach Kori Cheverie.
The Walter Cup final series now shifts to Ottawa for Game 3.
“It’s exciting. I think it's going to be great to get back home and get in front of our fans,” said Charge captain Brianne Jenner. “It was amazing last series and we're just looking forward to their energy helping us.”
Report: PWHL to Add San Jose to 2026/27 Expansion Team List
The PWHL also made headlines off the ice, as San Jose will reportedly join Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas in the rapidly expanding league.
With an official announcement expected Tuesday, the California expansion squad will tip the PWHL’s scales firmly south, with seven US-based and five Canadian teams.
Where to Watch Montréal vs Ottawa in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals
Montréal shoots for the sweep tonight at 6 PM ET, live on ION.
The Montreal Victoire pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Ottawa Charge in Game 1 of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals on Thursday night.
In a game that seemed destined for an Ottawa victory, Montreal erased a late deficit to silence the crowd of rowdy Charge fans at TD Place. With their thrilling overtime win, the Victoire now hold a 1-0 series lead in their quest for the PWHL championship.
Abby Roque Nets 'Miracle' Overtime Goal
The game reached a fever pitch in the final few seconds of regulation. Trailing by one, Montreal pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker. The gamble ultimately paid off when the Victoire found the back of the net with just 2.1 seconds remaining on the clock.
That down-to-the-wire surge sent the match into a sudden-death overtime period where star forward Abby Roque got a lucky break. As she weaved through the Ottawa defense, an errant pass ricocheted off her helmet and into the back of the net.
"I just saw the puck go right between my eyes and… then it somehow went in," she said after the game. "I was just hoping that's a goal."
Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie summed up the wild on-ice twist by dubbing it " a miracle in Laval."
Laura Stacey Injury Update
The biggest question for Montreal Victoire fans heading into Saturday is the status of alternate captain Laura Stacey. During the final minute of regulation in Game 1, Stacey took a heavy hit into the boards from Ottawa's Gabbie Hughes.
The star winger appeared to be in extreme pain and had to be helped off the ice by Marie-Philip Poulin, sparking immediate fears of a season-ending leg injury. But Stacey provided a massive emotional lift by returning for the start of overtime.
Not only did she play through the discomfort, but she also recorded the primary assist on Roque’s game-winning goal. Stacey finished the night with 21:54 of ice time, proving her essential role in the Victoire lineup. While there is no official word yet on her status, Stacey's ability to finish Game 1 is a positive sign for her availability during the tournament.
PWHL Walter Cup Finals: What’s Next for Montreal vs. Ottawa
The heartbreaking Game 1 loss is a tough pill to swallow for the Ottawa Charge, who controlled the pace for the first two periods at Place Bell. Still, the best-of-five series format gives them a quick chance to rebound.
The quest for the PWHL 2026 championship continues with a high-stakes schedule:
- Game 2: Saturday, May 16th at 2 PM ET
- Game 3: Monday, May 18th at 6 PM ET
- Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 20th at 7 PM ET
- Game 5 (if necessary): TBD
Fans can stream the tournament on the PWHL YouTube channel.
The 2026 Walter Cup is headed North, after Canadian titans Montréal and Ottawa won their PWHL semifinals in dramatic fashion.
The Victoire knocked off two-time reigning champions Minnesota on Tuesday to reach its first-ever finals, with captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s game-winner sealing the deal.
“It’s our biggest win in organization history,” said Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie. “We had to fight tooth and nail against a team like Minnesota. It wasn’t easy.”
“We're not done yet,” Poulin added. “We want to get to work here, and we're excited to get going on the 14th.”
The Victoire faces a Charge team with ample Walter Cup experience, after Ottawa fell just short of the Frost to finish as 2024/25 runner-up.
The Charge ousted Boston in Sunday’s double-overtime thriller, with final goal-scorer Michela Cava sending the Fleet packing.
“That was a big one,” said midseason Ottawa addition Cava. “I have been so close so many times and it feels really good just to get this one for the girls.”
Where to Watch the 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Finals
The 2026 Walter Cup Finals kick off Thursday at 7 PM ET, live on ION.
The 2026 PWHL playoffs brought the heat over the weekend, while the league also announced plans to add four teams via a new process that scraps the traditional PWHL expansion draft.
Two-time Walter Cup winner Minnesota took a 1-0 series lead over top-seeded Montréal with Saturday's 5-4 overtime victory. Jincy Roese scored the game-winner after Laura Stacey recorded the first hat trick in PWHL playoffs history for the Victoire.
Elsewhere, Ottawa evened its series against Boston 1-1 behind goalie Gwyneth Philips's 30-save performance.
The PWHL playoffs opened with intense physicality, as officials called 29 penalties through three games — including two majors and at least one suspension. Boston's Rylind MacKinnon subsequently served a one-game suspension for head contact against Ottawa's Gabbie Hughes.
"This series will be so tight," Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod said after Game 2's 3-1 finish. "We've seen it and we've said after last game, it's going to be hard-fought."
"Our players battle hard," Frost manager Ken Klee said after Game 1's 5-4 overtime win. "Sometimes it's us making mistakes, or other times it's just them making great plays."
PWHL Looks to Add Four Teams Without Expansion Draft
According to documents obtained by The Athletic, the PWHL expansion process will begin May 28th with multiple signing windows instead of an expansion draft. The league aims to give players more autonomy while adding four teams ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Expansion teams can now issue Expansion Franchise Offers — guaranteed contracts worth at least $100,000 with player-determined length up to four years. Teams may also hand out Foundational Player Offers worth $80,000 minimum over two years, with players free to decline the offers.
Unlike the previous expansion draft, existing teams can protect three players initially, then three more for a total of six throughout the five-phase process. However, teams can't lose more than four contracted players.
"Our approach has been thoughtful and player-focused, and we'll share more details at the appropriate time," the PWHL said in a statement.
Vancouver won the No. 1 pick in the June 17th PWHL entry draft, with Wisconsin and Team USA star defender Caroline Harvey expected to go first.
The 2026 PWHL postseason field is set, as Ottawa joined No. 1 Montréal, No. 2 Boston, and two-time defending champion No. 3 Minnesota with Saturday’s 3-0 win over Toronto.
The Victoire earned the No. 1 overall seed after a six-round 2-1 shootout win over Seattle on Saturday, opting to face Minnesota in this week’s best-of-five semifinal series.
“[Results] going all the way to the very end on the last day, I think it speaks to the quality of every single team in this league,” said Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie.
Four teams qualify for the Walter Cup playoffs, with the No. 1 seed earning both home ice and first opponent choice advantage.
However, the lower seed has gone on to win all four of the third-year league’s previous semifinals — putting the Victoire and Fleet on watch.
The Frost will look to lean on star Kelly Pannek, after the forward finished the regular season as the PWHL’s Points and Goals Leader.
“I think the mindset is celebrating the wins of the regular season, the successes we’ve had,” said Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield on Saturday. “Now let’s turn the page, and the new season begins — and that’s playoff hockey. That’s the best hockey that there is.”
How to Watch the 2026 PWHL Playoffs
The Walter Cup playoffs kick off Thursday at 7 PM ET, live on YouTube.
USA Hockey is officially off to the races at the 2026 Winter Olympics, hitting the ice in Milan for their initial group-stage matchup against Czechia on Thursday morning ahead of Friday's Opening Ceremony.
The competition's preliminary round features two groups of five teams, with Team USA squaring off against fellow automatic quarterfinalists Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, and Canada in Group A over the next six days to determine seeding for the knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, the countries comprising Group B — Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan — will concurrently play their round-robin group stage, but with higher stakes: Only the top three finishers from their pool will advance to the knockouts.
"It's a clean slate every time you get to a tournament," Team USA captain Hilary Knight said. "You have to work hard."
The US and Canada enter the eighth edition of the tournament as strong gold-medal favorites, but the rapid rise of the PWHL has produced the deepest field in Olympic history.
Czechia's roster includes eight PWHL players, with a total of 22 PWHL athletes representing six European countries at the Winter Games.
Along with the 16 standouts playing for Team USA and the 23 on Canada's roster, 61 PWHL players — 30% of the entire North American league — are competing on the Olympic ice this month.
"It's only our second Olympics," said Czechia head coach Carla MacLeod, who also helms the PWHL's Ottawa Charge. "But certainly there's a belief in the room that we can go play our best games and see where it takes us."
How to watch USA hockey vs. Czechia at the Winter Olympics
USA Hockey will open their 2026 Winter Olympics against Czechia at 10:40 AM ET on Thursday, with live coverage airing on USA Network.
The puck dropped on the 2025/26 PWHL Takeover Tour on Wednesday, when the No. 2 Montréal Victoire took down the No. 5 Toronto Sceptres 2-1 in an overtime shootout in front of a sold-out crowd in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Packed into Scotiabank Centre, 10,438 fans watched Team Canada and Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin score the shootout's lone goal, handing Montréal their third straight win.
"It was amazing to see the young girls and boys in the crowd wearing our jerseys, saying our names, and wanting our autographs," said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. "It's just extremely special."
The PWHL's 16-stop Takeover Tour is just beginning, with nine games planned for Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Washington DC, Denver, and more before the league pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
"We hope that the impact is a positive one. Everywhere we go, that's the impression we want to leave — for little girls to know that they have a dream and that their dream can become a reality," said Sceptres captain and Nova Scotia product Blayre Turnbull following Wednesday's Tour stop.
Halifax marks the third-year league's fourth sold-out stop, joining fellow Canadian cities Edmonton, Québec City, and Vancouver.
How to attend the 2025/26 PWHL Takeover Tour
The PWHL will next pull into Chicago's Allstate Arena for a Takeover Tour stop on Sunday, when the No. 8 Ottawa Charge will take on the No. 6 Minnesota Frost on at 2 PM ET.
Tickets are currently available for purchase via Ticketmaster.