Coming off an exceptional season, with a record of 44 points, the Ottawa Charge finished third overall and embarked on an exciting playoff run that thrilled their loyal fanbase. It wasn’t a storybook ending for the Charge, though, who fell agonizingly short against the defending Walter Cup champions, Minnesota Frost, in game four of the PWHL finals.
The loss was extra painful for Ottawa, which won the first of the four PWHL finals games with a 2-1 OT win. Things quickly went south as Ottawa would go on to lose three straight games, all in OT by 2-1 scores.
Not long after Minnesota won that second straight PWHL title, it was back to work for Ottawa’s management team, who had some decisions to make regarding who they wanted to protect in the Monday, June 9th PWHL Expansion Draft.
History will be made next season as two expansion teams, Seattle and Vancouver, will take to the ice for their inaugural seasons. At the draft, these teams will have the opportunity to shape their rosters as they select seven players from the list of players made available by the six PWHL teams.
Back on Tuesday, June 3rd, less than a week before the PWHL draft, the six teams announced the three players they decided to protect — players whom the two expansion teams couldn’t draft.
Ottawa made it official that they were protecting forward Emily Clark, goalie Gwyneth Philips and defenceman Ronja Savolainen. Days later, Gabbie Hughes would be put on the list.
In the 2024-2025 season, Clark finished second in team scoring with 9 goals and 15 points. Showing to be a clutch performer, Clark produced 3 goals along with 5 points in the eight playoff games.
Meanwhile, Philips had a solid rookie campaign, going 8-5-1 with two shutouts, along with a 2.11 GAA and a .919 save percentage. In the playoffs, she went 4-4 with one shutout and a sparkling 1.23 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
The third player, Savolainen, in her rookie year with Ottawa, was a force on the blue line, scoring 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) and posting a solid plus/minus of +11. Meanwhile, Hughes, who was selected by Ottawa 20th overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft, produced 5 goals along with 16 points in 29 games this season. During her career with Ottawa, Hughes has scored 14 career goals along with 28 points in 53 games.
Before the much-anticipated June 9th draft, both Vancouver and Seattle were given a signing window —from June 4th to the 8th — during which time the two expansion clubs were able to sign five unprotected players from the six PWHL clubs.
Teams lost some valuable talent, including Ottawa, which on June 5th, saw 30-year-old goalie Emerance Maschmeyer and 24-year-old forward Danielle Serdachny sign with the expansion clubs.
Maschmeyer has spent two seasons with Ottawa and is now signed to a two-year contract with Vancouver, while 24-year-old Serdachny, coming off a solid rookie campaign with Ottawa, signed a two-year contract with Seattle.
“Danielle is a tremendous addition to our group,” PWHL Seattle General Manager Meghan Turner said. “She’s strong, plays through contact, and she’s only beginning to tap into her full potential. Her ability to possess the puck and make plays under pressure will be a big asset for us as we build the identity of PWHL Seattle.”
Serdachny, who was chosen second overall by Ottawa in the 2024 PWHL Draft, has an impressive hockey résumé that includes scoring 239 points (82 goals, 157 assists) from 2019 to 2024 while playing NCAA for the Colgate Raiders. Her best year stats-wise came during the 2022-23 season, when she scored 25 goals and finished with 71 points, earning a top-three finalist spot for the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
Representing Canada, Serdachny had her finest hour in 2024 when she scored the overtime winner in Canada’s gold medal win at the Women’s World Championship. A year earlier, in 2023, and again in 2025, this gifted Edmontonian helped Canada win silver medals.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to join PWHL Seattle,” Serdachny said. “I am eager to contribute to building a remarkable legacy for this incredible city. I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to be one of the team’s first signees.”
Meanwhile, Vancouver General Manager Cara Gardner had some strong praise for their newly acquired goalie, Maschmeyer. “Emerance is quite simply one of the best in the world at her position, and Vancouver is fortunate to have a goaltender and Olympian of her calibre between the pipes to launch our inaugural season.”
Vancouver General Manager Cara Gardner also had praise for Maschmeyer, saying, “Her veteran leadership, relentless compete, and poise under pressure and contagious qualities that our team will feed off of and will give us a chance to win every game.”
Maschmeyer posted a 6-7-2 record with a 2.58 GAA and .913 save percentage this season. During her two-year tenure in Ottawa, she played 41 games, posting a 15-16-6 record with 2 shutouts, along with a 2.42 GAA and .914 save percentage.
In representing Canada, Maschmeyer helped them win Olympic Gold in 2022 and is an eight-time World Championship medalist.
“Joining Vancouver is an incredible opportunity, and I’m thrilled to be a part of such an exciting chapter of the league’s expansion,” Maschmeyer said. “Vancouver has proven to be a vibrant hockey city, and I’m thrilled to play in front of such passionate fans. I’m aligned with Cara’s vision and values and honoured to have the opportunity to help build this organization’s culture from the ground up.”
Both Maschmeyer and Serdachny contributed mightily to Ottawa’s success and will be missed. That being said, they are tremendous additions to the two new PWHL expansion teams.
Here’s wishing them lots of luck with their new teams.
Photos: Courtesy PWHL Charge
