Fearless on the Ice, Fearless in Life: Carla MacLeod Takes On a New Challenge

Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod has never been one to turn away from a challenge.

Whether it be on the ice, where this former defenceman celebrated many great achievements, including helping Canada win back-to-back Olympic Gold Medals in 2006 (Turin, Italy) and again in 2010 (Vancouver, BC), or more recently coaching the upstart Ottawa Charge of the PWHL and Czech women’s national team, MacLeod has always been known to tackle challenged head on and be successful.

Recently, MacLeod learned about a different kind of challenge she must face, which is bigger than the great game of hockey.

MacLeod, who is 43 years old, shocked the hockey world when, in late November, she made it public about being diagnosed with breast cancer, but still plans on missing just one game behind Ottawa’s bench (December 2) and still plans on coaching Team Czechia at the upcoming February 2026 winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

“I want to share some personal news: I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Hearing those words was incredibly difficult, but I want everyone to know that I’m going to be okay,” MacLeod said. “I’m incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional medical team guiding me, and together we’ve built a treatment plan that gives me tremendous confidence in the road ahead. There are still some variables to be determined as we move forward, but my goal, without question, is to be behind the bench as often as possible.”

Before Tuesday night’s (December 2) 5-1 loss at TD Place against the back-to-back Walter Cup champions, Minnesota Frost, both Ottawa and the Frost showed tremendous compassion towards MacLeod by wearing pink clothing and ribbons in paying tribute to the coach who is looking to return from treatments for Thursday’s game (December 4) at Coca-Cola Coliseum against the Toronto Sceptres.

MacLeod also went on to say, “I have the best job on the planet. Coaching the Ottawa Charge and the Czechia Women’s National Team is a privilege I cherish deeply. One of my biggest concerns, outside of my own health, was the possibility of not being able to fully support the two programs that mean so much to me. I finally exhaled when my medical team assured me that my treatment should have minimal impact on being present for the Charge season and that I’ll still be able to coach Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games in February.”

MacLeod, who is in her third season coaching the Charge, has seen the entire hockey world rooting for her recovery. Among her many supporters who have reached out with their best wishes are the Ottawa Senators, who sent the coach a letter of support saying, “We are sending strength and positivity to Carla MacLeod after she bravely shared her cancer diagnosis earlier today,” the Senators wrote in a statement on social media. “We are all one hockey community in Ottawa-Gatineau, and we will put our collective energy into rallying behind Carla. We are confident Carla will display her trademark determination in battling this illness, adding another chapter to her remarkable story.”

Ottawa Life Magazine joins the entire hockey community in wishing Carla MacLeod unwavering strength and a full, steady recovery.

Photo: Courtesy PWHL