I asked Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld about the search for a new captain: “I’m confident in the leaders we’ll have back.” Specifically mentioned Leslie, Savolainen, Hughes: “We feel confident with that group leading forward.”

In this clip from my conversation with Jamie Nelson, she explains the difficult decision of transferring from Minnesota State to the University of Minnesota in order to prepare for the 2026 PWHL Draft. Our full conversation is out now on Rinkside Rundown: open.substack.com/pub/rinkside...

Quinnipiac’s Zoe Uens joined me on Rinkside Rundown for an upcoming episode to share her journey from Belleville, Ontario to a successful collegiate career. Now she’s preparing for the next chapter in the upcoming PWHL Draft. I can’t wait to see her make the impact we all know she will.

I’ll have more on Ottawa’s approach to the upcoming draft, including comments from GM Mike Hirshfeld, in an article coming soon for @thehockeynewsw.bsky.social. Here’s are a few things: • no goaltending • open to draft day trades • will continue looking at European options

Spoke with Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld about the draft. He said the one area in which he knows the organization won’t be drafting is goaltending.

Here’s the 2026 PWHL Draft order: 1. Vancouver 2. Seattle 3. Detroit 4. San Jose 5. Las Vegas 6. Hamilton 7. New York 8. Toronto 9. Minnesota 10. Boston 11. Ottawa 12. Montreal

The Ottawa Charge will select 11th overall in this year’s PWHL Draft. Vancouver will select first, followed by Seattle, the expansion teams and then inverse order for remainder. Order will remain the same in all six rounds.

PWHL Detroit has signed Ella Huber on a one-year contract, bringing the roster to the required 10 players: • Ella Huber • Hannah Bilka • Britta Curl-Salemme • Jesse Compher • Daryl Watts • Taylor Girard • Shiann Darkangelo • Cayla Barnes • Syd Bard • Nina Jobst-Smith

Brock University announced that Jim Denham, who was the head coach of the women’s hockey program from 2010-2015, passed away.

PWHL Las Vegas has signed forward Katy Knoll to a two-year contract. Knoll is the ninth player the team has added to its roster and the first of two players to be added in Phase 4.

Let’s now take a look at who the Ottawa Charge could take with the organization’s second round selection in this week’s draft: Lily Shannon

Back on Episodes 54 and 60, I had a chance to speak with Bri Eid and Clara Yuhn, respectively, on Rinkside Rundown. I can’t wait to cheer them on as both look to take the next step in their journeys with the 2026 PWHL Draft.

As I continue to spotlight the incredible individual I’ve had a chance to speak with on Rinkside Rundown, next up is forward Katia Pelowich. Katia joined me on Episode 102 of the show and is now preparing to make the jump to the pros this week in the PWHL Draft.

It’s PWHL Draft week, so let’s take a look at players the Ottawa Charge could add to a roster which has made consecutive trips to the Walter Cup Finals. First up is who I believe the team should target in the first round: Finnish defender Nelli Laitinen.

On Rinkside Rundown, I’ve been fortunate to speak with players who are about to embark on an exciting next chapter this week at the PWHL Draft. Over the next three days, I’m going to highlight those players, and that starts with Reichen Kirchmair (Ep. 70) and Avi Adam (Ep. 38).

Kim Weiss has officially been named head coach of PWHL Las Vegas. Weiss has spent the past two seasons with thr Colorado Eagles (AHL), where she has become the second woman in AHL/NHL history to serve as an assistant coach in a full-time role.

St. Cloud State University captain Grace Wolfe, who enters this week’s PWHL Draft, talks about the growth in women’s sports, and how it should be “celebrated with everything that it is.” Subscribe now to Rinkside Rundown so you don’t miss my conversation with Grace, coming soon: rinksiderundown.ca

Starting today, I’ll be sharing some exciting Draft prospects I think the Ottawa Charge should select later this week. And once we *finally* know the true Draft order, I’ll have a full write up for The Hockey News. Love Draft work, and I can’t wait to share this!

Finally, in recapping today’s Phase 4 signing news is PWHL Hamilton, who continues to bring the heat with three more additions:

Next up in our Phase 4 recap is PWHL San Jose:

It certainly felt like a flurry of signings there in the PWHL, as Phase 4 of expansion continues. Let’s recap, starting with PWHL Detroit:

PWHL San Jose adds defender Daniela Pejšová on a two-year contract. San Jose’s roster: • Daniela Pejšová • Hadley Hartmetz • Rory Guilday • Mariah Keopple • Natálie Mlýnková • Anne Cherkowski • Kristin O’Neill • Maddi Wheeler • Maggie Connors • Corinne Schroeder

PWHL Detroit has signed defender, and friend of the show, Nina Jobst-Smith to a one-year contract. Detroit’s roster: • Nina Jobst-Smith • Cayla Barnes • Hannah Bilka • Britta Curl-Salemme • Jesse Compher • Daryl Watts • Syd Bard • Taylor Girard • Shiann Darkangelo

Can’t wait to cheer on friends of the show Natálie Mlýnková, Riley Brengman and Abby Hustler as each head off to help launch new PWHL teams!

PWHL Hamilton wasn’t done there, adding Abby Hustler on a two-year contract. Another quality human being added to a foundation that continues to set the bar.

PWHL Hamilton has signed defenders Allyson Simpson and Riley Brengman both to two-year contracts. Hamilton now has eight players with two more to be added during Phase 4.

I’ve spoken with over 25 players in this year’s draft class, and each is so excited about this next chapter and what it could hold. To be mere days out and still have not disclosed any information is a farce and remarkably unprofessional. These players deserve better than this.

Natálie Mlýnková has signed a one-year contract with PWHL San Jose, becoming the team’s ninth player and first of two players to be added during Phase 4.

PWHL Detroit adds forward Shiann Darkangelo on a two-year contract. Darkangelo, just like Taylor Girard who also signed with the team, is a Michigan native.

Gwyneth Philips, Ann-Renée Desbiens and Aerin Frankel have been named as the finalists for Goaltender of the Year. The winner will be announced at the awards on June 16th.

I’ll be editing my final pre-PWHL Draft episode of Rinkside Rundown today (out on Thursday), but a reminder that I’ll have many more prospect interviews coming all summer long!

While the focus has been on what each team has lost through expansion, it’s worthwhile to check in on what each could gain in Phases 5 and 6. Here are five free agents that the Ottawa Charge could target in my latest for @thehockeynewsw.bsky.social: thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/...

Phase 4 of expansion starts today at 12:00pm EST and goes until tomorrow at 3:00pm EST. What is Phase 4? Each expansion team will now sign players until they get to 10. Players under contract or on expired contracts can be signed.

University of Minnesota forward Jamie Nelson finished off her collegiate career with a career season, and now enters the 2026 PWHL Draft, ready for the next step of her journey. Discover Jamie Nelson’s story now on Rinkside Rundown: open.substack.com/pub/rinkside...

Not every athlete’s journey to the professional level is the exact same, and that’s how Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute forward Nina Christof is approaching the upcoming PWHL Draft. Subscribe to Rinkside Rundown so you don’t miss our full conversation, coming soon: rinksiderundown.ca

Charge fans, now that we’ve officially made it halfway through expansion, how are you feeling? Phase 4 starts on June 14th, so we have some time to breathe and discuss!

Following the completion of Phase 3 of PWHL expansion, each team announced its additional three protected players, and that included the Ottawa Charge:

Three signings in the league today, two involving expansion teams while the other sees key pieces locked up with contract extensions:

Lots happened today in the PWHL, so let’s recap. We’ll start with league news, as PWHL Detroit names an assistant coach and Defender of the Year finalists have been unveiled:

Looking at the expansion rules (this is my wild and crazy Friday night): Yes, both Wozniewicz and Kadirova would need to sign qualifying offers since they were protected in Phase 3 (Hughes was already under contract). That needs to be done by Phase 5 (June 16 & 18).

On Rinkside Rundown, I’ve been so fortunate to speak with over 25 incredible individuals who have declared for next week’s PWHL Draft. Over the next week, you’ll see clips and some awesome new graphics to help celebrate each one of them. I can’t wait to share!

I’ve never been very good at this sort of thing, but I did end up going 6/6 this year in expansion.

That sound you heard about a half hour ago in the nation’s capital? Yeah, that was Charge fans breathing a sigh of relief with the announcement that Sarah Wozniewicz, Fanuza Kadirova and Gabbie Hughes were all protected in expansion.

Both Sarah Wozniewicz and Fanuza Kadirova needed to sign contracts in order to have been protected during the expansion process. Wozniewicz’s agent on social media: “terms to come.”

Phase 3 of the PWHL’s expansion process is officially in the books. Here’s a breakdown, as well as what happens next in Phase 4, for @thehockeynewsw.bsky.social: thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/...

The Ottawa Charge have protected Gabbie Hughes, Fanuza Kadirova and Sarah Wozniewicz in Phase 3 of league expansion.

PWHL Las Vegas adds veteran experience by signing Maureen Murphy to a one-year contract. The details for The Hockey News: thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/...

Phase 3 signings have officially closed, although I’d expect more announcements to come. Next up: existing teams will submit their three protected players. Still waiting for any news from the Ottawa Charge.

PWHL San Jose has signed defender Mariah Keopple to a two-year contract. San Jose has now signed three players in Phase 3 of expansion: • Hadley Hartmetz • Maggie Connors • Mariah Keopple

This week on Rinkside Rundown, you’ll discover the story of Jamie Nelson, forward with the University of Minnesota and her journey from Andover, Minnesota to the 2026 PWHL Draft. www.rinksiderundown.ca/p/jamie-nels...