Charge's Season Ends in Walter Cup Final Loss
Ottawa fell to Montreal in Game 4 of the championship series, ending the Charge's bid for back-to-back Walter Cup titles.
Montreal claimed the Walter Cup Thursday night, defeating Ottawa in Game 4 of the finals and dashing the Charge's hopes of winning consecutive championships.
The loss came despite a strong playoff run that saw the Charge overcome expansion-year roster losses and preseason predictions of finishing last in the PWHL standings. Ottawa had clawed back to the finals for the second straight year, a testament to both the team's draft strategy and mid-season adjustments.
On the Sens 1-on-1 podcast, Bruce Garrioch spoke with Ottawa Citizen Charge writer Natasha Baldin about what went wrong in the series and what the team needs to improve heading into next season. The conversation centred on Montreal's ability to capitalize on key moments and Ottawa's inability to sustain the offensive pressure that carried them through the regular season.
Rookie forward Sarah Wozniewicz was the Charge's brightest spot in the finals, becoming the first player in league history to record a point in four straight playoff games. Her performance signals that Ottawa's youth pipeline remains strong, even as the team faces the prospect of losing players to expansion.
The postseason run confirmed that the Charge's rebuild—built on skating, physicality, and smart drafting—is bearing fruit. The next chapter will test whether management can retain its young core while remaining competitive in a league expanding to accommodate four new teams.