A Young Voice in Ottawa's Locker Room
Ottawa has a quiet but fast-rising force on its PWHL roster — and Kendra Woodland is making the most of her time in the nation's capital. In a recent appearance on TSN's The Drive, the Ottawa forward spoke candidly about the experience of learning from teammate and veteran Gwyneth Philips, offering a glimpse into the kind of mentorship culture that's taken root inside the Ottawa dressing room.
For a franchise still building its identity in the PWHL's early years, that kind of player-to-player development matters. Veterans like Philips bring not just skill but a blueprint — how to handle playoff pressure, how to stay sharp when the stakes climb, and how to show up when the team needs it most.
Learning from the Best
Woodland was open about what she's absorbed from skating beside Philips day in and day out. Whether it's positioning, compete level, or the mental side of professional hockey, having a seasoned player to lean on can accelerate a young athlete's development in ways that practice alone can't replicate.
That mentorship dynamic is one of the quieter storylines of Ottawa's season — one that doesn't always make the highlight reel but absolutely shows up in the way the team plays.
Ottawa's Playoff Run Is For Real
The bigger conversation, of course, is what's happening on the ice right now. Ottawa's playoff push has the city buzzing, and fans at Canadian Tire Centre have been showing up with serious energy. The PWHL has earned a passionate local following in Ottawa — a city with deep hockey roots and a fanbase that was hungry for a top-tier women's game to get behind.
For Woodland, speaking to TSN about the run isn't just a media obligation — it's a chance to represent a team that's fighting for something real. Playoff hockey in any league is a different animal, and the Ottawa squad has shown it has the depth and the drive to compete.
What This Moment Means for Ottawa Women's Hockey
Beyond the wins and losses, Ottawa's presence in the playoff picture is a signal. The PWHL is still a young league, and every moment a Canadian market like Ottawa gets deep into the postseason conversation helps cement the league's legitimacy and grow its fanbase.
For younger players like Woodland — and for the girls in Ottawa who watch her every shift — this run carries meaning beyond the standings.
Ottawa sports fans already know how to rally. And right now, there's every reason to pay attention to this team.
Source: TSN's The Drive via Google News Ottawa
