Ottawa Charge GM talks post-expansion rebuild ahead of Game 2
Ottawa's professional women's hockey team had every reason to struggle this season. After losing several key players in the off-season through the PWHL's expansion draft and free agency, the Ottawa Charge faced a rebuild that could have derailed their playoff hopes before the puck even dropped. Instead, they're in the playoffs — and general manager Mike Hirshfeld is ready to talk about how they got here.
In a candid conversation with CBC's Emma Weller, Hirshfeld reflected on a summer that forced the organization to rethink its roster from the ground up.
Rebuilding on the fly
The expansion process stripped Ottawa of depth that took years to build. Hirshfeld described the off-season as a period of difficult conversations and deliberate roster construction, not just patching holes but rethinking how the Charge wanted to play.
"We had to be honest about what we lost and what kind of team we wanted to become," Hirshfeld told CBC. "That clarity actually helped us make better decisions in free agency and at the draft."
The front office leaned into developing younger players and identifying veterans who fit the identity they wanted to build — a hard-working, defensively responsible team that could generate offence in transition.
A team that bought in
One theme that ran through Hirshfeld's interview was culture. The Charge locker room, by all accounts, bought into the rebuild narrative rather than fighting it. Players who stepped into larger roles embraced the opportunity, and the coaching staff found ways to maximize a roster that looked thin on paper.
"This group works incredibly hard and they believe in each other," Hirshfeld said. "That belief carried us through stretches of the season where things could have gone sideways."
The result is a team that finished the regular season in playoff position — a genuine surprise given the expectations heading into the year. Ottawa fans, increasingly passionate about the Charge since the PWHL's inaugural season, have rewarded the team with strong attendance and loud home-ice support throughout the run.
Eyes on Game 2
With the post-season now underway, Hirshfeld's focus has shifted entirely to the present. Game 2 looms, and the Charge know that every shift matters at this stage of the season.
For a franchise that is still establishing itself in the city's sports landscape, a deep playoff run would be transformative — both for the team's profile and for women's hockey in the capital. Ottawa already has one of the most engaged PWHL fan bases in the league, and a playoff victory would only deepen that connection.
"We're not done," Hirshfeld said simply. "This group hasn't reached its ceiling, and we want to show that in the playoffs."
Whether the Charge can translate their regular-season resilience into post-season success remains to be seen. But after a summer that tested the organization's patience and planning, they've already exceeded what most expected. Ottawa's hockey city status extends well beyond the Senators — and the Charge are proving it one game at a time.
Source: CBC Sports
