Family Reunion on Ice: Brooke McQuigge's Ottawa Charge Trade Brings Sisters Together
For professional hockey player Brooke McQuigge, a mid-season trade to the Ottawa Charge represented far more than just a career move. The transaction, completed in January 2026, brought the 25-year-old forward to a city where both her sisters had already established their lives, creating an unexpected family reunion in the nation's capital.
A Homecoming to Familiar Faces
While Ottawa wasn't where Brooke grew up in Bowmanville, Ontario, the move felt remarkably like coming home. Since arriving from Vancouver in mid-January as part of a six-player trade with the Vancouver Goldeneyes, Brooke has hardly gone a single day without seeing her two sisters.
"When I knew I was coming to Ottawa, it was obviously really exciting," Brooke told the Ottawa Citizen. "I was excited to reunite with my family and be close to home and just have people around the rink that I'm familiar with. It made a huge difference in the transition."
Her sister Rachel is currently attending law school at the University of Ottawa, while younger sister Kirstyn works as a hockey operations coordinator with the very same Ottawa Charge organization. This professional convergence has created a unique situation where all three McQuigge sisters now call Ottawa home.
Family Support in the Stands
The family connection extends beyond just the sisters. Parents Liz and Trevor McQuigge make regular drives from their Perth-area home to attend every Ottawa Charge home game, cheering on their daughter from the stands.
"I always look up and see where my family is sitting in the stands," Brooke revealed. "It's so cool to have them in the crowd."
This consistent family presence has helped the relatively new city begin to feel like home for the professional athlete, who has only been in Ottawa for a couple of months but already feels deeply connected through her family network.
Hockey Roots in the McQuigge Family
The McQuigge sisters' hockey journey began in their Bowmanville childhood home, where parents Liz and Trevor exposed all their children to various sports without pushing them in any particular direction. Despite this balanced approach, all three daughters naturally gravitated toward the ice.
"They all just fell into this, and we just went with it," Liz explained. "We didn't ever have to force them to wake up early in the morning to go to the rink for practice."
Rachel was the first to sign up for organized hockey, with Brooke and Kirstyn quickly following her lead. The family spent countless weekends at local arenas, participating in public skating sessions that eventually evolved into serious hockey commitments through the Clarington Flames girls' hockey program.
Sibling Rivalry Fuels Competitive Spirit
Growing up with just 18 months between each sister created a natural competitive environment that helped shape their athletic development. Brooke frequently found herself playing alongside one sister or another throughout her youth hockey career.
"We were super competitive with each other," Brooke acknowledged. "It's just been so much fun and just to let our competitive side out."
This spirited sibling rivalry took root in their Bowmanville home, where Brooke and Kirstyn shared a bedroom with Rachel's room right next door. The close quarters and similar ages created a dynamic that pushed all three sisters to excel in their hockey pursuits.
The Professional Women's Hockey League's timing couldn't have been better for the McQuigge family. With all three sisters now established in Ottawa and pursuing their respective careers, the trade that brought Brooke to the Ottawa Charge has created a heartwarming sports story about family, opportunity, and the bonds that transcend professional athletics.
