2023–24 PWHL Ottawa season explained

Season:2023–24
Year:2024
Team:PWHL Ottawa
League:PWHL
Record:8–1–6–9 (5th)
Homerecord:4–1–3–4
Roadrecord:4–0–3–5
Goalsfor:62
Goalsagainst:63
Generalmanager:Mike Hirshfeld[1]
Goalsleader:Daryl Watts (10)[2]
Assistsleader:Kateřina Mrázová (12)
Pointsleader:Brianne Jenner (20)
Pimleader:Tereza Vanišová (21)
Plusminusleader:Ashton Bell (+3)
Winsleader:Emerance Maschmeyer (9)[3]
Gaaleader:Emerance Maschmeyer (2.30)
Prev Season:None
Next Season:2024–25

The 2023–24 PWHL Ottawa season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at TD Place Arena in Ottawa.

Ottawa finished the season on a three-game losing streak, and were eliminated from playoff contention in the final regular season game, a 5–2 loss to PWHL Toronto.[4] Despite missing the playoffs, Ottawa led the league in attendance.[5]

Offseason

The team announced Mike Hirshfeld as their first employee in the summer of 2023 when he was named general manager.[6] On August 31, it was announced that TD Place Arena would be the home venue for the team.[7] On September 5, the team signed its first three players in Emily Clark, Brianne Jenner, and Emerance Maschmeyer.[8] On September 15, the team named Carla MacLeod its head coach.[9] On December 29, Jenner was named captain, with Clark and Jincy Roese to serve as assistant captains.[10]

Schedule and results

Regular season

On December 17, 2023, it was announced that the team had sold out its January 2 opening game against Montreal.[11] With 8,318 fans in attendance at the game, it set a new record for attendance at a professional women's hockey game.[12] Hayley Scamurra scored the first goal in franchise history during the game, but PWHL Montréal won the game in overtime by a score of 3–2. After its second scheduled game was postponed due to inclement weather, Ottawa secured its first ever win on January 13 with a 5–1 victory over PWHL Toronto.[13] After dropping its first two home games in overtime, Ottawa won its first game at TD Place Arena on January 23, defeating Toronto by a score of 3–1.[14]

Ottawa was in a position to clinch a playoff spot in late April, needing one regulation win with three games left on the schedule. However, Ottawa lost all three games, including a 4–3 decision against last place-PWHL New York, and narrowly missed out on the final playoff spot.

Regular season schedule

The regular season schedule was published on November 30, 2023.[15]

|- style="background:#fff;"| 1 || January 2 || PWHL Montreal || 2–3 || OT || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,318 || 0–0–1–0 || 1 || [16] |- style="background:#ccc;"| – || January 8 || @ PWHL Boston || colspan="8"|Postponed due to inclement weather.[17] Moved to February 19.[18] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 || January 13 || @ PWHL Toronto || 5–1 || || Maschmeyer || Mattamy Athletic Centre || 2,416 || 1–0–1–0 || 4 || [19] |- style="background:#fff;"| 3 || January 17 || PWHL Minnesota || 2–3 || OT || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 5,609 || 1–0–2–0 || 5 || [20] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 || January 23 || PWHL Toronto || 3–1 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 6,316 || 2–0–2–0 || 8 ||[21] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 5 || January 24 || PWHL Boston || 2–3 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 5,208 || 2–0–2–1 || 8 ||[22] |- style="background:#fff;"| 6 || January 27 || @ PWHL Montreal || 1–2 || OT || Maschmeyer || Place Bell || 8,646 || 2–0–3–1 || 9 || [23] |-|- style="background:#fff;"| 7 || February 4 || PWHL New York || 3–4 || OT || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,062 || 2–0–4–1 || 10 || [24] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 8 || February 14 || @ PWHL Minnesota || 1–2 || || Maschmeyer || Xcel Energy Center || 6,276 || 2–0–4–2 || 10 ||[25] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 9 || February 17 || PWHL Minnesota || 1–2 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,407 || 2–0–4–3 || 10 || [26] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 10 || February 19 || @ PWHL Boston || 4–2 || || Maschmeyer || Tsongas Center || 2,849 || 3–0–4–3 || 13 || [27] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 11 || February 21 || @ PWHL Boston || 1–3 || || Maschmeyer || Tsongas Center || 1,889 || 3–0–4–4 || 13 || [28] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || February 24 || @ PWHL Montreal || 3–6 || || Maschmeyer || Verdun Auditorium || 3,232 || 3–0–4–5 || 13 || [29] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || February 28 || PWHL New York || 4–2 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 6,889 || 4–0–4–5 || 16 || [30] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 14 || March 2 || PWHL Toronto || 2–5 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,447 || 4–0–4–6 || 16 || [31] |- style="background:#fff;"| 15 || March 5 || @ PWHL Minnesota || 3–4 || SO || Abstreiter || Xcel Energy Center || 4,585 || 4–0–5–6 || 17 || [32] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || March 10 || @ PWHL Montreal || 4–2 || || Maschmeyer || Place Bell || 10,172 || 5–0–5–6 || 20 || [33] |- style="background:#fff;"| 17 || March 16 || @ PWHL Boston || 1–2 || SO || Maschmeyer || Little Caesars Arena || 13,736 || 5–0–6–6 || 21 || [34] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 18 || March 20 || @ PWHL New York || 3–0 || || Maschmeyer || Total Mortgage Arena || 1,702 || 6–0–6–6 || 24 || [35] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 19 || March 23 || PWHL Toronto || 5–3 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,448 || 7–0–6–6 || 27 || [36] |-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20 || April 20 || PWHL Minnesota || 4–0 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,110 || 8–0–6–6 || 30 ||[37] |- style="background:#ccf;"| 21 || April 24 || PWHL Boston || 3–2 || SO || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 7,686 || 8–1–6–6 || 32 ||[38] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 22 || April 27 || PWHL Montreal || 0–2 || || Maschmeyer || TD Place Arena || 8,452 || 8–1–6–7 || 32 || [39] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 23 || April 30 || @ PWHL New York || 3–4 || || Maschmeyer || Prudential Center || 2,992 || 8–1–6–8 || 32 || [40] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 24 || May 5 || @ PWHL Toronto || 2–5 || || Maschmeyer || Mattamy Athletic Centre || 2,620 || 8–1–6–9 || 32 || [41] |- style="text-align:center;"|

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season
Player data-sort-type="number" !
24 9 11 20 78 4
23 6 12 18 30 16
24 10 7 17 73 8
24 4 11 15 74 10
24 9 3 12 61 20
24 3 9 12 49 8
24 5 5 10 91 2
23 2 6 8 20 8
24 2 5 7 36 2
23 1 5 6 30 10
24 0 5 5 30 14
16 0 3 3 11 2
22 0 3 3 21 2
24 2 0 2 17 4
6 0 2 2 7 21
9 1 0 1 7 0
15 1 0 1 17 4
7 0 0 0 5 4
2 0 0 0 1 0
9 0 0 0 1 0
7 0 0 0 1 0
13 0 0 0 6 4
15 0 0 0 3 0

Goaltenders

+ colspan="16" style="background:#fff; border-top:#BC1F1E 5px solid; border-bottom:#383334 5px solid;"Regular season
Player
23 1332:07 9 9 4 51 2.30 599 0.915 2 0 1 0
3 116:42 0 0 0 6 3.08 69 0.913 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Milestones

Regular season
Player Milestone Reached
1st goal in franchise history January 2, 2024
1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
1st assist in franchise history
1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
1st career PWHL game
Daryl Watts
Becca Gilmore
Akane Shiga
Mikyla Grant-Mentis
Savannah Harmon
Gabbie Hughes
Brianne Jenner
Kristin Della Rovere
Emily Clark
Amanda Boulier
Jincy Roese
Fanni Garát-Gasparics
1st loss in franchise history
1st career PWHL loss
1st career PWHL overtime loss
Gabbie Hughes 1st career PWHL goal January 13, 2024
Daryl Watts 1st career PWHL goal
Natalie Snodgrass 1st career PWHL goal
Jincy Roese 1st career PWHL assist
Amanda Boulier 1st career PWHL assist
Mikyla Grant-Mentis 1st career PWHL assist
Savannah Harmon 1st career PWHL assist
Emerance Maschmeyer 1st win in franchise history
1st career PWHL win
1st career PWHL assist
Savannah Harmon 1st career PWHL goal January 17, 2024
Lexie Adzija 1st career PWHL goal
Emily Clark 1st career PWHL assist
Gabbie Hughes 1st career PWHL assist
Kateřina Mrázová 1st career PWHL assist
Emily Clark 1st career PWHL goal January 23, 2024
Brianne Jenner
Lexie Adzija 1st career PWHL shorthanded goal
Kristin Della Rovere 1st career PWHL goal January 24, 2024
Lexie Adzija 1st career power play goal
Natalie Snodgrass 1st career PWHL assist
Hayley Scamurra
Brianne Jenner
Maureen Murphy 1st career PWHL goal January 27, 2024
1st career PWHL game
Aneta Tejralová 1st career PWHL game February 4, 2024
Daryl Watts 1st career PWHL assist
Amanda Boulier 1st career PWHL goal February 14, 2024
Aneta Tejralová 1st career PWHL assist
Becca Gilmore
Emily Clark 5th career PWHL assist February 19, 2024
Akane Shiga 1st career PWHL goal February 24, 2024
Fanni Garát-Gasparics 1st career PWHL goal February 28, 2024
1st career short-handed goal
Gabbie Hughes 5th career PWHL goal
Lexie Adzija
Amanda Boulier 5th career PWHL assist
Ashton Bell 1st career PWHL goal March 2, 2024
Kateřina Mrázová 5th career PWHL goal March 5, 2024
Brianne Jenner 5th career PWHL assist
Daryl Watts
Kateřina Mrázová 5th career PWHL assist March 10, 2024
Aneta Tejralová
Daryl Watts 5th career PWHL goal March 20, 2024
Jincy Roese 5th career PWHL assist
Emerance Maschmeyer 1st career PWHL shutout
Natalie Spooner 15th career PWHL goal March 23, 2024
Sarah Nurse 5th career PWHL goal
Tereza Vanišová 10th career PWHL assist April 20, 2024
Emily Clark 10th career PWHL assist April 24, 2024
Daryl Watts 10th career PWHL goal May 5, 2024
Hayley Scamurra 5th career PWHL assist

Transactions

Signings

Date Player Position Term Previous Team Ref
September 5, 2023 F 3 years Team Harvey's [42] [43]
September 5, 2023 F 3 years Team Sonnet
September 5, 2023 G 3 years Team Scotiabank
October 26, 2023 F 1 year
October 27, 2023 D 2 years Team Adidas
October 30, 2023 F 3 years
October 31, 2023 D 1 year Quinnipiac
November 1, 2023 F 2 years Team Harvey's
November 1, 2023 D 3 years Minnesota Duluth
November 2, 2023 F 1 year
November 2, 2023 F 1 year
November 3, 2023 D 1 year
November 6, 2023 F 1 year
November 7, 2023 D 1 year Boston Pride
November 7, 2023 F 1 year
November 8, 2023 D 3 years Team Harvey's
November 9, 2023 G 1 year
December 20, 2023 D 1 year Connecticut Whale [44]
December 20, 2023 F 1 year [45]
December 21, 2023 F 1 year Minnesota Whitecaps [46]
December 21, 2023 G 1 year [47]
December 22, 2023 F 1 year Metropolitan Riveters [48]
December 22, 2023 F 1 year [49]

Draft picks

See also: List of PWHL Ottawa draft picks. Below are the PWHL Ottawa's selections at the 2023 PWHL draft held on September 18, 2023.[50]

RoundPickPlayerNationalityPositionPrevious team
15DefenceTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
28DefenceMinnesota Duluth (WCHA)
317DefenceTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
420ForwardMinnesota Duluth (WCHA)
529ForwardTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
632ForwardToronto Six (PHF)
741DefenceBoston Pride (PHF)
844ForwardConnecticut Whale (PHF)
953DefenceQuinnipiac University (ECAC)
1056ForwardHarvard University (ECAC)
1165ForwardQuinnipiac University (ECAC)
1268 GermanyGoaltenderConnecticut Whale (PHF)
1377DefenceMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
1480ForwardConnecticut Whale (PHF)
1589ForwardMontreal (RSEQ)

References

Recaps

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ottawa Staff . ThePWHL.com . . December 17, 2023.
  2. Web site: Skater Stats . ThePWHL.com . . May 5, 2024.
  3. Web site: Goalie Stats . ThePWHL.com . . May 5, 2024.
  4. News: Martin . Curtis . 2024-05-06 . Toronto Heads Into Playoffs With Stars Firing After Eliminating Ottawa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240506145041/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/toronto-heads-into-playoffs-with-stars-firing-after-eliminating-ottawa . 2024-05-06 . 2024-06-09 . The Hockey News.
  5. News: Pringle . Josh . 2024-05-06 . Ottawa now a destination for PWHL players following inaugural season, GM says . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509061807/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-now-a-destination-for-pwhl-players-following-inaugural-season-gm-says-1.6874871 . 2024-05-09 . 2024-06-09 . CTV News Ottawa.
  6. News: Donkin . Karissa . 2023-11-16 . How PWHL Ottawa was built from scratch in less than 80 days . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201034906/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-ottawa-first-camp-day-2-1.7030975 . 2023-12-01 . 2023-12-17 . .
  7. News: 2023-09-01 . Ottawa's PWHL team to share TD Place Arena with OHL's 67's . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008193236/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/ottawas-pwhl-team-to-share-td-place-arena-with-ohls-67s/ . 2023-10-08 . 2023-12-17 . .
  8. News: Raymond . Ted . 2023-09-05 . Ottawa's new professional women's hockey team has its first players . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907080340/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-s-new-professional-women-s-hockey-team-has-its-first-players-1.6548554 . 2023-09-07 . 2023-12-17 . CTV News Ottawa .
  9. News: 2023-09-16 . Carla MacLeod named head coach of Ottawa’s PWHL team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209225757/https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2023/09/16/carla-macleod-named-head-coach-of-ottawas-pwhl-team/ . 2023-12-09 . 2024-01-05 . CityNews.
  10. News: Donkin . Karissa . 2023-12-29 . Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianne Jenner named captains of PWHL Montreal, Ottawa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231231052420/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-montreal-ottawa-captains-1.7071370 . 2023-12-31 . 2024-01-05 . CBC Sports.
  11. News: Raymond . Ted . 2023-12-17 . PWHL Ottawa home opener sell-out to set North American attendance record . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217192225/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/pwhl-ottawa-home-opener-sell-out-to-set-north-american-attendance-record-1.6691125 . 2023-12-17 . 2023-12-17 . CTV News Ottawa .
  12. News: Brennan . Don . 2024-01-02 . A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104225658/https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener . 2024-01-04 . 2024-01-05 . Ottawa Sun.
  13. News: Ibrahim . Abdulhamid . 2024-01-13 . Ottawa rides fast start, 2 power-play goals to 1st-ever PWHL win . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114204842/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-ottawa-toronto-recap-jan-13-1.7082882 . 2024-01-14 . 2024-01-25 . CBC Sports . The Canadian Press.
  14. News: 2024-01-23 . Ottawa finally wins PWHL game at home, beats Toronto . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124033749/https://www.tsn.ca/pwhl/ottawa-finally-wins-pwhl-game-at-home-beats-toronto-1.2066841 . 2024-01-24 . 2024-01-25 . . The Canadian Press.
  15. Web site: 2023-11-30 . Professional Women's Hockey Lewague (PWHL) Announces 2024 Regular-Season Schedule . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201034939/https://www.thepwhl.com/professional-womens-hockey-league-pwhl-announces-2024-regular-season-schedule . 2023-12-01 . 2023-11-30 . PWHL.
  16. Web site: January 2, 2024 . PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Ottawa . January 2, 2024 . ThePWHL.com . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102065338/https://www.thepwhl.com/stats/game-center/3 . live.
  17. Web site: January 8, 2024 . Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Announces Postponed Game Between Boston and Ottawa .
  18. Web site: January 10, 2024 . Postponed Ottawa-Boston Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Game Rescheduled for Feb. 19 .
  19. Web site: January 13, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Toronto . January 21, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  20. Web site: January 17, 2024 . PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Ottawa . January 17, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  21. Web site: January 23, 2024 . PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Ottawa . January 23, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  22. Web site: January 24, 2024 . PWHL Boston @ PWHL Ottawa . January 25, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  23. Web site: January 27, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Montreal . January 27, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  24. Web site: February 4, 2024 . PWHL New York @ PWHL Ottawa . February 4, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  25. Web site: February 14, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Minnesota . February 15, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  26. Web site: February 17, 2024 . PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Ottawa . February 17, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  27. Web site: February 19, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Boston . February 19, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  28. Web site: February 21, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Boston . February 22, 2024 . ThePWHL.com . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222053624/https://www.thepwhl.com/en/stats/game-center/34 . live .
  29. Web site: February 24, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Montreal. February 25, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  30. Web site: February 28, 2024 . PWHL New York @ PWHL Ottawa. February 29, 2024 . ThePWHL.com.
  31. Web site: March 2, 2024 . PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Ottawa . March 2, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  32. Web site: March 5, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Minnesota . March 5, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  33. Web site: March 10, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Montreal . March 10, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  34. Web site: March 10, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Boston. March 16, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  35. Web site: March 20, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL New York. March 20, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  36. Web site: March 23, 2024 . PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Ottawa. March 23, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  37. Web site: April 20, 2024 . PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Ottawa. April 20, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  38. Web site: April 24, 2024 . PWHL Boston @ PWHL Ottawa. April 24, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  39. Web site: April 27, 2024 . PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Ottawa. April 27, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  40. Web site: April 30, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL New York. April 30, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  41. Web site: May 5, 2024 . PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Toronto . May 5, 2024 . ThePWHL.com .
  42. Web site: Ottawa Signing Summary (Live Tracker) . December 17, 2023 . ThePWHL.com . . December 24, 2023.
  43. Web site: 2023 PWHL Ottawa Player Signing Tracker . Shircliff . Elaine . November 25, 2023 . FullPressHockey.com . Full Press Hockey . December 24, 2023 . With each passing day, the rosters for each team in the PWHL begin to take shape..
  44. PWHL_Ottawa . 1737511614482403671 . Locked up for the year. Former University of New Hampshire captain and PHF All-Star Tori Howran (@howran5) has joined the squad on a one-year deal! . December 20, 2023 . PWHL Ottawa.
  45. PWHL_Ottawa . 1737576999298736369 . Buckey’s in the Capital City! PHF All-Star and 2021 MVP Mikyla Grant-Mentis joins us on a 1-year deal! . December 20, 2023 . PWHL Ottawa.
  46. PWHL_Ottawa . 1737879201041047933 . Natalie Snodgrass PWHL Ottawa The 2023 PHF All-Star Forward will suit up for our squad for the 2023–24 season. . December 21, 2023 . PWHL Ottawa.
  47. PWHL_Ottawa . 1737940818147873177 . Our net is in good hands. Former Metropolitan Riveters goaltender and Princeton University standout will mind our net for the 2023–24 season! . December 21, 2023 . PWHL Ottawa.
  48. PWHL_Ottawa . 1738220714224763328 . From Capital City to Capital City Hungarian National Team Captain and 2023 PHF All-Star Fanni Garát-Gasparics will join us on a 1-year deal! . December 22, 2023 . PWHL Ottawa.
  49. PWHL_Ottawa . 1738307409351733628 . The first Japanese player in PWHL history is all ours! Join us in welcoming Akane Shiga to Ottawa for the 2023–24 season! -------- PWHL史上初の日本人選手を一年契約で獲得! 志賀紅音選手をオタワに迎え入れましょう! . December 22, 2023 . PWHL Ottawa.
  50. Web site: PWHL Draft Tracker: Round-by-round recap of all 90 selections . . September 18, 2023 . July 16, 2024.