Emily Clark has signed a two-year contract with the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Hamilton, becoming the second player from the Ottawa Charge to join the Steel City expansion team. The move follows the signing of Charge captain Brianne Jenner, who inked a deal with Hamilton on Friday.
A Significant Loss for the Charge
Clark's departure marks another significant blow to Ottawa's leadership group. She was one of the team's three foundational signings before the inaugural PWHL season and served as an alternate captain since the team's debut. "It is extremely difficult to put into words what my time in Ottawa has meant to me," Clark wrote on social media. "Since the inaugural puck drop, I was fueled by your unwavering support and gave everything I had to this amazing city. There are countless moments from TD Place and Canadian Tire Centre where your cheers and energy was felt deeply, and those have become some of my favourite memories of my career so far."
Ottawa now becomes the first PWHL team to lose all three of its September 2023 foundational signings, as Clark's exit follows Jenner and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, who signed in Vancouver ahead of last season. Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld expressed gratitude for Clark's contributions, stating, "We are grateful to Emily for setting the tone as one of this organization's three foundational players. Her impact has gone far beyond the scoresheet in the past three years. She set a standard that inspired everyone around her. She leaves a legacy that has made our team stronger and will continue to influence future players for years to come."
On-Ice Performance and Legacy
Clark was a reliable forward for Ottawa, most recently playing on the team's shutdown line. She led the team in all-time games played, appearing in all 100 games in team history, including 84 regular-season and 16 postseason games. Clark ranks second in Charge history in assists with 27 and third in goals with 16, and she led the team in scoring during the 2025 playoffs with three goals and five points. Hirshfeld noted, "Emily played the Charge way: fast, skilled, physical, hard to play against. Her perseverance was contagious. Her unwavering dedication to this hockey community will be missed."
Clark's offensive output was quieter this season, with just three goals and nine points in the regular season, which may have contributed to her being left unprotected during the expansion draft. Hirshfeld informed Clark of the decision, and she "took it like a professional." Last season, Clark was protected from the Vancouver and Seattle expansion, but this year the team opted to protect Rebecca Leslie instead.
Contract and Future in Hamilton
Clark was under contract with the Charge through the 2027-28 season, so Hamilton will inherit the remainder of the two-year deal. The investment is significant, as Clark was the highest-paid player in the league last season, earning $126,000. She joins a strong core in Hamilton that includes Jenner, forward Alina Müller, defender Nicole Gosling, and goaltender Kayle Osborne, all on three-year contracts. These signings are part of Phase 2 of the expansion player distribution process, allowing each expansion team to sign its first five players.
Clark is the third player Ottawa has lost to expansion; earlier, first-round defender Rory Guilday signed with PWHL San Jose. Reflecting on her time in Ottawa, Clark added, "I will always cherish the bond this group shared and be proud of what we accomplished together. It has been such an incredible honour to play for the Ottawa Charge."
