2023 PWHL Training Camp Preview: Ottawa

When the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)’s first training camp begins on November 15, the majority of Ottawa's roster will already be signed. Altogether, Ottawa has a strong foundation of leadership on the ice and cohesive team staff already in place. With so many players signed, there aren't any gaping holes to fill in the roster – just depth to round out.

Expected Camp Roster

Team Staff

• General manager: Michael Hirshfeld, former head of the NHL Coaches' Association
• Head coach: Carla MacLeod, former Canadian national team player; coached Team Czechia to first medals ever
• Assistant coach: Haley Irwin, former Canadian national team player and Ryerson Rams assistant coach
• Assistant coach: Cassea Schols, Team Czechia women's video coach
• Goalie coach: Pierre Groulx, former Ottawa Senators goaltending coach and scout
• Video coach: Adam Campbell, former lead data & video analyst with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers and video coach with the University of Minnesota women's team and Carleton University men's team

What They Have

Many of Ottawa's inaugural players have served as captains or co-captains on former teams, including Kristin Della Rovere, former Harvard University captain, and her childhood best friend, Zoe Boyd, who co-captained the Quinnipiac Bobcats with another teammate, Lexie Adzija.

Daryl Watts, the first freshman to win a Patty Kazmaier, will hope to reach the heights of her rookie season after a down year for the 2023 PHF championship-winning Toronto Six. Becca Gilmore, the first undrafted player to be signed, adds another World Championship gold medal to a team brimming with them.

In goal, Sandra Abstreiter will be backing up Emerance Maschmeyer, despite the two goalies typically playing opposite roles on Team Germany and Team Canada, respectively.

Ottawa has already signed six players to 3-year contracts valued at $80,000 or more per year, as required by the PWHL CBA.

What They Should Be Looking For

Ottawa has signed more players than any team other than Boston, and only two players from their inaugural draft class still unsigned as of today — 14th and 15th round picks Caitrin Lonergan and Audrey-Ann Veillette. Veillette, who is injured, may not join the team this season as her rehab timeline is still unclear; she will not attend camp. Other invited players who won't attend camp are Kyra Willoughby, who is also injured, and Saroya Tinker, who announced her retirement on November 14.

Even without them, Ottawa's camp should be highly competitive. Michael Hirshfeld has signed 9 forwards, 2 goalies, and 6 defenders, and six roster spots remain. Since four of those spots will likely go to forwards, it's good news that Ottawa has several intriguing free agents at that position on their camp roster, including former PHF superstar Mikyla Grant-Mentis and Hungarian offensive dynamo Fanni Garát-Gasparics. Unfortunately, their pool of defenders has shrunk just in the last 24 hours – Taylor Davison, Cassidy Herman, and Victoria Howran will compete for what will likely be a single roster spot. Meanwhile, former PHF goalies Rachel McQuigge and Samantha Ridgewell will vie for the #3 position on the goaltender depth chart.

News & Notes

Along with the rest of the PWHL, Ottawa revealed their inaugural season jerseys on November 14:

The Ottawa team colors are Red, Storm, and White, per the league. ("Storm" appears to be a dark blue-gray.)

PWHL Ottawa also announced their practice facility will be The Arena at TD Place in Ottawa, which was the site of the very first IIHF Women's World Championship tournament in 1990.