Charge relocate to Canadian Tire Centre
The Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will make the Canadian Tire Centre their primary home venue, practice facility, and training centre beginning with the 2026-27 season. This move marks a new chapter for women’s professional hockey in the capital region, bringing the Charge under the same roof as the Ottawa Senators.
Previously, the Charge played their first three seasons at TD Place. During this time, the team developed a dedicated fanbase. The relocation comes as TD Place enters a redevelopment phase, and the Canadian Tire Centre is set to provide enhanced facilities to support the Charge’s continued growth.
Mike Hirshfeld, General Manager for the Ottawa Charge, expressed enthusiasm for the move, noting the benefits of playing in the larger arena and the opportunity to collaborate more closely with the Senators. He highlighted the success of previous games held at the Canadian Tire Centre, which drew significant crowds.
The Charge previously played one regular season game and four playoff games at the Canadian Tire Centre. A game on April 3 against the Montréal Victoire saw an attendance of 17,114, setting a new women’s hockey attendance record in Ottawa. Additionally, the team set a PWHL single-game playoff attendance record with 16,894 fans at their first 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Finals game on May 18, also against the Victoire.
Enhanced facilities and community impact
The move to the Canadian Tire Centre will provide the Charge with a dedicated campus, overseen by Chris Phillips, Senators vice president of business operations. This campus will include a self-contained, exclusive locker room space, a lounge, medical facilities, equipment areas, and coaches’ offices for the players.
Hirshfeld stated that these new facilities are expected to be among the best in the PWHL, making the Canadian Tire Centre an attractive destination for recruiting players. The ability to practice and play in one location is a significant advantage that many other teams in the league do not yet have.
Cyril Leeder, President and CEO of Senators Sports & Entertainment, emphasized the importance of the Charge within the local hockey ecosystem. He noted the strong fan support the team has garnered and the benefits of having two major hockey leagues operating under one roof in the city.
Leeder also mentioned that Senators owner Michael Andlauer supports the agreement, aiming to ensure the Charge’s long-term success in the city. There is also a desire to potentially include the Charge in future plans for a new arena development at LeBreton Flats.
Player and fan perspectives
Rebecca Leslie, a Charge forward who grew up in Ottawa and led the team in both regular season and postseason scoring, shared her excitement about playing at the Canadian Tire Centre. She highlighted the excellent facilities and the strong fan turnout during previous games at the arena.
Leslie noted that the quality of the facilities at the Canadian Tire Centre is a significant draw for players. The move also brings together siblings Ridly Greig, a Senators forward, and Dara Greig, who signed with the Charge as a free agent.
Hirshfeld acknowledged potential fan concerns regarding the move from TD Place but emphasized the opportunity to welcome more fans due to the increased capacity at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Charge are currently accepting deposits for new Season Ticket Memberships for the 2026-27 season.
The official announcement of the move was made on July 9, 2026.
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Source: nhl.com
As CasinoNews's Sports News Writer, Mason Leclair reports on the CFL, golf and combat sports for readers across the country. He moved from regional papers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Carleton University. Mason lives in Ottawa, where he follows the PGA Tour and mixed martial arts. “Get the facts down first, then add the context.”
