OTTAWA - It鈥檚 not often players are all smiles after a good, hard practice but for members of the PWHL Ottawa team there was no better feeling than hitting the ice at TD Place.
Friday鈥檚 practice was the first official on-ice session of training camp for the new Professional Women's Hockey League franchise in Ottawa and players couldn鈥檛 be more excited to get to work.
With the regular season set to get underway in January players and coaches will have to make the most of the next few weeks, but right now the focus is on building some team chemistry.
"They just want us to be able to play our best hockey and whatever that looks like for us and however it get鈥檚 done they want to assist us any way they can," said forward Gabrielle Hughes. "Right now, they just want us to get comfortable. Get a feel for the rink, get a feel for the girls and just start to have fun."
These are memorable moments for not only the players, but the coaching staff.
Head coach Carla MacLeod admitted she pulled out her phone on the ice and shared a video of the experience with her mom.
As a former national team player and longtime coach, MacLeod said she understands far too well how long players have been waiting for this opportunity.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e been wired in our game to always be thinking about the future,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about making sure the future (players) have got something to dream about and that鈥檚 an important part, but it鈥檚 also about where we鈥檝e come from and the heavy, heavy lifting that鈥檚 been done by so many men and women leading into this moment.鈥
MacLeod added that while there鈥檚 much to be done in preparation for the regular season, the key for now is encouraging her players to get familiar with one another.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 when you start to find chemistry and things like that,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e actually have some time. We鈥檒l use the next couple of weeks, we鈥檝e got our exhibition series, so we鈥檙e not in a race, we鈥檙e not in a rush."
Wednesday, the team took the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt that led them to Ottawa鈥檚 downtown core, where they had the chance to meet with some of their newest fans.
A number of players are familiar with one another whether having played together at the collegiate level, on the national team or against one another on the international stage.
"You know that coming into this league everyone鈥檚 going to be great," Hughes said. "There鈥檚 not going to be one bad hockey player. We鈥檙e all at the professional level now so being able to see what everyone brings to the rink is really fun and honestly everyone鈥檚 been very impressive."
Being a part of the league from its very inception is a special moment for players and they鈥檙e enjoying every aspect.
鈥淚t鈥檚 super special,鈥 said forward Emily Clark. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 fully sunk in yet, but it鈥檚 definitely in conversations. We understand the opportunity and, honestly, the privilege that we have to start something like this.鈥
Clark added that while players will be sure to enjoy the moment, they also want to keep the bigger picture in mind.
After months of preparations general manager Mike Hirshfeld sat back and watched the first practice with as much excitement as those who were participating in it.
鈥淚鈥檓 just super excited, it鈥檚 a historic day,鈥 Hirshfeld said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been three-and-a-half months of a lot of planning to get to his point. Just thrilled to see them out there and having fun.鈥
Hirshfeld said the team will get down to a bit more of the business next week as they prepare for pre-season scrimmages in Utica, N.Y. the week of Dec. 3 where all six franchises will be participating.
This report by 好色tvwas first published Nov. 17, 2023.
This is a corrected story. A previous version of this story gave an incorrect team name for the PWHL's Ottawa franchise. The team has not yet announced a name.
Note to readers: A previous version of this story gave an incorrect team name for the PWHL's Ottawa franchise. The team has not yet announced a name.
