The roar of the crowd at TD Place was deafening on Saturday evening as the Ottawa Charge returned to the ice for their highly anticipated home opener of the 2025-26 Professional Women's Hockey League season. Despite a sea of red-clad fans creating an electric atmosphere, a cloud of uncertainty about the team's future home hung over the arena.
An Electric Atmosphere at TD Place
Fans showed up in force, donning team jerseys, toques, and scarves to create a vibrant sea of red throughout the stands. The energy was palpable as supporters blew kazoos, waved towels, and held up signs cheering on their favourite players. The cheers were particularly deafening whenever Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Phillips made a crucial save against the visiting New York Sirens.
Throughout the game, the enthusiastic chants of "Go Charge Go" echoed through the arena, led in large part by young girls wearing the jerseys of their hockey heroes. The sight of so many families and young fans underscored the team's significant impact on the community.
Fan Enthusiasm Overshadows Final Score
Despite the final score of 4-0 in favour of the New York Sirens, the optimism and support from the nearly sold-out crowd never wavered. Season ticket holder Sheldon Goodridge, who has supported the team since its arrival, captured the prevailing sentiment. "It's been great. The vibes are electric. Would have loved to see that first goal count, but it is what it is, you know," he remarked, adding that it was "wonderful to see so many young girls get excited about the future of competitive and professional sports."
The connection between the players and their fans was evident before the puck even dropped. Players like centre Alexa Vasko and Katerina Mrazova took time to sign autographs and take selfies with excited young supporters, reinforcing the team's role as inspirations. Lorraine Byerley, a hockey player and season ticket holder, emphasized this point, stating, "The Ottawa Charge is a big inspiration for many girls and women who love the sport."
The Lansdowne 2.0 Question Looms Large
Amid the celebration, conversations about the recently approved Lansdowne 2.0 project were circulating among fans. Earlier this month, the Ottawa city council voted 15-10 to approve the redevelopment, which would reduce TD Place's capacity to approximately 5,850 seats, with standing room bringing the total to around 6,600.
The PWHL has already stated clearly that this proposed capacity is "well below what (they) average" in Ottawa. Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s senior vice-president of business operations, confirmed in a media availability the previous Tuesday that "every option is on the table" and that the league "will not go backwards." This strongly implies that the Charge would not play in the new arena, creating significant uncertainty about where the team will call home in the future.
This concern was shared by fans in the stands. Lorraine Byerley expressed her frustration, noting the irony of season ticket price increases this year coinciding with the approval of a smaller future rink. "I'm not happy that council approved a smaller rink," she said, revealing that she had to switch seats this season because her usual section became too expensive.
The home opener was a powerful demonstration of the Ottawa Charge's successful integration into the city's sports culture. However, the parallel narrative of the Lansdowne 2.0 project leaves fans and the organization facing a pivotal moment, hoping a solution can be found that keeps the team in a venue worthy of its growing and passionate fanbase.
