Ottawa will host Boston in the first Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game following the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, with both teams welcoming back players who recently competed on the world stage. The game, scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at TD Place, will also serve as the Charge’s Black History Celebration, part of the PWHL’s Unity Game series.
The Boston Fleet arrive in Ottawa with a record of 8-2-2-2, tied for first place in the PWHL standings, and bolstered by the return of three U.S. Gold medalists: Aerin Frankel, Megan Keller, and Haley Winn, as well as Swiss bronze medalist Alina Müller. Keller, who also serves as captain of the Fleet, tied for the tournament lead in scoring with nine points at the Olympics. Müller was named a Tournament All-Star for the second time.
Frankel, the Fleet’s goaltender, set an Olympic tournament record with three shutouts and a 0.39 goals-against average. The Fleet had seven players participate in the Olympics, representing five different countries – the United States, Switzerland, Czechia, Finland, and Germany.
The Ottawa Charge, currently 4-5-0-7 and in fifth place, will welcome back eight Olympians, including Canadian gold medalists Gwyneth Philips, Rory Guilday, Emily Clark, Brianne Jenner, and Jocelyne Larocque. Jenner will serve as the honorary captain for the Ottawa Condors, an adaptive hockey organization, as part of the Charge’s community outreach.
Both teams have faced each other six times this season, with Ottawa leading the season series in points 4-2, though Boston leads the all-time series 21-18. The Charge have won the last four meetings between the teams, including both games this season that ended in shootout victories.
Prior to the Olympic break, the Charge defeated the Toronto Torrent 4-2, marking their third consecutive home game with at least four goals scored. Rebecca Leslie scored twice in that game, continuing a strong performance with 14 points in 16 games this season.
Both the Fleet and the Charge boast potent power plays, with Boston converting on 28.1% of their opportunities and Ottawa at 26.3% – the two highest percentages in the PWHL.
The game will feature several cultural elements honoring Black History, including an anthem performance by Canadian jazz and soul artist Kellylee Evans, a ceremonial puck drop featuring athletes from the African Hockey Association, and spotlights on organizations like the Women of Colour Hockey Collective. The Charge will also collaborate with the Ottawa Rapid FC, with players from both teams sporting the PWHL Black History jerseys.
Fleet Head Coach Kris Sparre emphasized the excitement surrounding the team’s return from the Olympics, stating, “There’s so much excitement around this group and around our players right now…the composure they’re bringing back to our group moving forward is something we’re really excited about.” Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod acknowledged the challenge of facing a strong Boston team, saying, “Boston’s a great team. They play a team game. They play a relentless game.”
