Ottawa's Luckiest Poodle
Ottawa's PWHL squad, the Charge, has plenty of talent on the ice — but some of the team's biggest believers think the secret weapon might be four-legged, fluffy, and answers to the name Monkey.
Monkey is a three-year-old mini-poodle belonging to Charge defender Jocelyne Larocque, and over the course of the season the little dog has wormed her way into the hearts of the entire roster. Players talk about her the way they talk about a good power play: with genuine affection and a hint of superstition.
Rebecca Leslie's Big Milestone
All of that puppy energy is now being pointed at a very specific cause. Charge forward Rebecca Leslie is turning 30, and her teammates want this birthday — and the games around it — to be one to remember.
Leslie has been one of the most dynamic forwards in the PWHL this season, bringing speed, skill, and an unmistakable competitive edge to the Ottawa lineup night after night. Turning 30 as a professional athlete tends to arrive with a bit of cultural weight, but if her teammates have anything to say about it, the milestone is going to feel a lot more like a celebration than a crossroads.
The 'Monkey Power' Effect
The concept of Monkey Power — loosely defined as whatever good vibes and chaotic poodle energy Monkey radiates — has become a genuine bit of team lore in the Ottawa dressing room. Larocque brings Monkey around the team, and the dog's popularity has only grown.
It's the kind of small, joyful detail that makes a team feel like more than just a collection of contracts. In a league still building its culture and fanbase, moments like these — a beloved team dog, a milestone birthday, a locker room that clearly genuinely likes each other — matter.
Why It All Matters for Ottawa Fans
The Ottawa Charge have given this city something it didn't fully know it needed: a professional women's hockey team that competes at the highest level and connects with fans in a real, human way. The PWHL has been a genuine success story in Ottawa, drawing strong crowds and building a loyal following that turns up with energy every home game.
Watching Rebecca Leslie chase down a milestone birthday in an Ottawa sweater, with her teammates leaning on a mini-poodle for cosmic assistance, is exactly the kind of story that builds long-term fandom. It's funny, it's warm, and it's undeniably local.
Here's to 30
Whether Monkey Power is real or just a very cute narrative, one thing is clear: the Ottawa Charge are a team that takes care of their own. Leslie is about to turn 30 surrounded by people — and at least one dog — who want her to have the best possible game.
Happy birthday, Rebecca. Ottawa is cheering for you.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
