The Ottawa Charge women's professional hockey team is celebrating more than just roster finalization as they head into their third PWHL season. Team captain Brianne Jenner describes the unique multicultural atmosphere that makes this year's squad stand out across the league.
A Global Gathering on Preston Street
Following final roster decisions earlier this week, Charge players gathered at a Preston Street restaurant in Little Italy for a team celebration that quickly revealed the team's international character. Captain Brianne Jenner shared the memorable moment with Postmedia, noting the diverse nature of their toast. "We're kind of like the United Nations," Jenner said. "We were laughing because we probably said cheers in eight different languages."
Six Nations Represented on 2025-26 Roster
The Charge boasts the most internationally diverse roster in the Professional Women's Hockey League, with players representing six different countries:
- Canada: 11 players
- United States: 6 players
- Finland: 2 players
- Russia: 2 players
- Czechia: 1 player
- Austria: 1 player
This international representation marks a significant achievement for the league, with less than half of Ottawa's roster being homegrown Canadian talent. While the Boston Fleet also features players from seven countries, the Charge holds the distinction of having the highest number of international players overall in the PWHL.
Historic Russian Debut and Communication Solutions
What makes this season particularly unique for Ottawa is the historic inclusion of the first two Russian players in PWHL history. Forwards Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova will make their league debut when the Charge hosts the New York Sirens in Saturday night's season opener at TD Place.
The team has implemented creative solutions to bridge language barriers. With neither Russian player speaking English, the Charge has arranged for an interpreter, and English-speaking Russian defender Vita Poniatovskaia is expected to join the team's reserve list after attending camp as a free agent. Jenner noted that players also rely on Google Translate and the team's coaching board to communicate with their Russian teammates.
"We're still getting to know all our new players, but that's really kind of the excitement of a new season," Jenner said about the team's gelling process. "It's fun. We're a pretty welcoming group and it's cool to see all these different kinds of cultures coming together and just being proud to be one in sport."
The team nearly achieved even greater international representation. Had defender Jessica Adolfsson (Sweden) not been released this week, the Charge would feature players from seven countries. Keeping Norwegian defender Emma Bergesen, who was the first Norwegian player signed in the PWHL, would have brought the total to eight different nations.
As the Ottawa Charge prepares for their Saturday night season opener against the New York Sirens at TD Place, they carry not just championship aspirations but the pride of being the PWHL's true international ambassadors, proving that hockey truly is a universal language.
