Why my first Ottawa Charge game turned me into a fan

I’ve never considered myself a hockey girl, or even a sports fan in general. But the buzz around the Ottawa Charge is impossible to ignore.  

That's why I figured it was finally time to check it out for myself.  

When I stepped into the main concourse, the energy was palpable as people bustled to their seats. When I sat down, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible diversity in the crowd—the stadium was packed with everyone from university-age students to families with young kids and elderly lifelong hockey fans. The atmosphere was immediately welcoming, despite how different everyone was.  

The one thing we all had in common? Enormous enthusiasm to watch our team play at home.  

The anticipation kept building until finally, the national anthem rang out. In a time where everyone could use a little more Canada, it was a rousing moment of national pride.  

Then, the players hit the ice. The Charge play blink-and-you-miss-it hockey, with the puck rapidly firing back and forth, switching sticks in an instant.  

I will freely admit that I don’t know much about the rules in hockey. The refs’ calls went way over my head, and when the people around me protested a penalty, I usually didn’t know what was going on. But despite my inexperience, I was never bored. The game kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat, from the first puck drop to the final moments.  

The highlight of the game was when the Charge scored their first goal against the Minnesota Frost. When Brianne Jenner sank the puck about four minutes into the first period, the crowd leapt to its feet, roaring triumphantly. The noise was astounding—a stadium of thousands of fans, all cheering for one thing. I could see kids’ hockey teams brandishing homemade signs, adults indulging in a little childlike wonder, and young people like me screaming at the top of our lungs.  

I thought that would be a moment like no other. Then I got to experience it again—four more times. The Charge were on top of their game, scoring again and again, trading rapid passes, zipping across the ice and getting gritty when they needed to.

If you’ve never experienced a home game win for this team, you simply must. After the buzzer sounded, victory for Ottawa, the players flooded the rink, circling up at centre ice. They raised their arms, and we clapped on the beat, creating a sound remarkably like a storm rolling in. It was like being inside a thunderhead, energy crackling all around me.  

Beyond the gameplay itself, the PWHL’s fan-centric approach is what made this an experience to remember. From stylish merch designs to hockey trivia to Chappel Roan blasting through the stadium, I felt seen and appreciated as a fan.  

I could tell others felt the same way. When a kazoo buzzed the iconic call-and-response during breaks in play, everyone gleefully shouted “CHARGE” in support of the team. People got up and danced when a great song came on. Fans sported signs ranging from a shoutout to their favourite player (such as one that read “Fort Philips” with a drawing of a castle, in support of goalie Gwyneth Philips’ tight defence) to a pink glittery sign that just read “WOMEN.” 

The PWHL loves its fans, and those fans love it right back. That was evident the entire game.  

For any girl who grew up playing sports, or who never felt like she could, this is the game for you. Despite appealing to every kind of fan, women are the lifeblood of the PWHL, which made this experience an incredibly empowering and uplifting thing to be a part of.  

If you had told me before this game that I would become a staunch supporter of any sports team, I would have laughed. But after my first time seeing the Ottawa Charge play, I can tell you honestly—I've been converted.  

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