One year after arriving at her first Professional Women's Hockey League camp as a third-round draft pick, Gwyneth Philips has transformed from an unproven college star into the Ottawa Charge's most valuable asset. The 25-year-old goaltender's spectacular playoff performance has ignited serious discussion about whether she might be the best women's hockey goalie in the world today.
From Rookie to Franchise Cornerstone
Almost exactly twelve months ago, Gwyneth Philips attended her first PWHL camp with the Ottawa Charge as a third-round selection. Despite her impressive college credentials, she entered the professional ranks without a single minute of pro experience. Fast forward to this past summer, and team management was pointing to Philips as the primary reason fans shouldn't worry about players lost to free agency.
Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld expressed absolute confidence in his goaltender, signing her to a two-year contract extension before her initial deal had even expired. "We've got the best goalie in the world," Hirshfeld declared. "I think people need to remember that. We're going to be OK. We're going to be in every game, just because we have the best goalie in the world."
A Stellar Breakout Season
Philips seized her opportunity when veteran netminder Emerance Maschmeyer suffered an injury, taking over the Number One role and never looking back. The young goalie started 16 consecutive games, compiling an impressive 9-3-4 record during that stretch and firmly establishing herself as the team's starting goaltender.
Her regular season success was merely a prelude to what she would accomplish in the playoffs. Despite the Charge ultimately falling to the Minnesota Frost in the Walter Cup finals, Philips delivered one of the most remarkable postseason performances in recent memory. She won four games and lost four, with every defeat coming in overtime, demonstrating how closely contested each match was.
Historic Playoff Performance
Philips' playoff statistics border on the unbelievable. She faced a tremendous workload, making 257 saves—over one hundred more than the next busiest goaltender in the postseason. Her .952 save percentage and 1.23 goals-against average placed her in elite company, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure against the league's best offensive players.
Though the Charge's championship quest ended in a Game 4 defeat where every contest in the best-of-five series finished with an identical 2-1 score, Philips' individual excellence did not go unrecognized. She received the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP trophy for her outstanding contributions, joining rarefied company in hockey history.
For perspective, only six players in NHL history have won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP while playing for the losing team, underscoring how exceptional her performance was despite her team coming up short in the final series.
Looking Ahead to the New Season
With Maschmeyer now a member of the Vancouver Goldeneyes following the PWHL expansion draft, Philips enters the 2025-26 season as Ottawa's undisputed Number One goaltender. As training camp opened Monday at TD Place, Philips remained characteristically humble about her accomplishments and the high expectations surrounding her.
"I appreciate Mike's confidence in me, and we signed that extension, but last season was a group effort and I'm super excited to have done that," Philips stated. "Yeah, we lost a few players, but behind the scenes Mike and coach Carla MacLeod were working to fill those gaps, and to create a stellar team in front of me for this upcoming season. I'm pretty confident they did that."
By the "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" standard that often dominates sports discussions, Gwyneth Philips has a compelling case to be considered the world's premier women's hockey goaltender. Her record-breaking playoff performance, combined with her rapid development from college star to professional standout, has positioned her as both the present and future of the Ottawa Charge franchise.
