Leslie Leads Charge Comeback in Olympic Send-Off Win

On a night dedicated to celebrating the world’s biggest sporting stage, the Ottawa Charge delivered a performance worthy of an Olympic spotlight.

With the PWHL set to pause for the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, the Charge closed the league’s “Ultimate Send-Off” with a thrilling 4–2 comeback win over the Seattle Torrent on Wednesday night at TD Place. Rebecca Leslie scored twice in the third period, including the game-winning goal with just 30 seconds remaining, as Ottawa sent its Olympians, and the league itself, into the break on a high note.

Courtesy of the PWHL.

The evening opened with Canadian Olympian Adam van Koeverden, a four-time Olympic medalist and gold medal-winning sprint kayaker, performing the ceremonial puck drop. Now serving as Canada’s Secretary of State (Sport), van Koeverden symbolized the connection between the PWHL and the global stage awaiting so many of its players in Italy.

That Olympic energy carried into the building, as the Charge returned home after four straight road games for their first game at TD Place in 19 days. The matchup marked the second meeting between the two teams this season, following a 4–1 Seattle victory in December, which is the Torrent’s largest win.

Seattle scored first midway through the second period when the U.S. Olympian and Torrent captain Hilary Knight opened the scoring at 5:40 on the power play, collecting her third goal of the season and the 50th point of her PWHL career. 

Ottawa responded early in the third period, as Fanuza Kadirova tied the game just 2:02 into the frame with her fourth goal of the season. Seattle briefly regained the lead at 10:03 when Eldridge snapped a wrist shot past Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips.

With time winding down, Leslie delivered an Olympic-style moment. With just over five minutes remaining, the Ottawa native tied the game by tipping in a passing sequence from rookie Sarah Wozniewicz and captain Brianne Jenner. The assist was historic for Jenner, who became the sixth player in PWHL history to reach 50 career points, matching Knight’s career totals exactly in games played, goals, and assists.

The decisive blow came on a late power play. Leslie fired a shot from the top of the circle that slipped through the pads of Corinne Schroeder with 30 seconds remaining, giving Ottawa its first lead of the night. Just 13 seconds later, Emily Clark added another goal, setting a new Charge record for fastest two goals and ranking third-fastest in PWHL history.

The comeback win extended Ottawa’s home winning streak to a franchise-record four games and marked the team’s league-leading fourth victory when trailing after two periods. This is a testament to the group’s resilience heading into the Olympic break.

Ottawa improved to 22 points and held onto fifth place in the standings, while the Torrent remained eighth. Beyond the result, the night served as a celebration of the PWHL’s growing Olympic footprint. Following the three stars announcement, fans remained on their feet as players and staff from both teams were recognized in a post-game Olympic send-off.

The Ottawa Charge will be represented at Milano Cortina by Canada’s Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque, and Emily Clark, along with head coach Carla MacLeod; the United States’ Rory Guilday and Gwyneth Philips; Finland’s Sanni Ahola and Ronja Savolainen; and Czechia’s Kateřina Mrázová.

The Seattle Torrent’s Olympic contingent includes Canada’s Julia Gosling; the United States’ Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Cayla Barnes, and Hannah Bilka; and Czechia’s Aneta Tejralová.

In total, 61 PWHL players, nearly 30 percent of the league, have been named to Olympic rosters, representing eight countries and reinforcing the league’s impact on the international stage. The women’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics will run from Feb. 5 to Feb. 19.

“This league is providing a stage for players to show what they can do at the top level,” said Charge head coach Carla MacLeod. “What Rebecca has done in the first 16 games is nothing short of impressive, but what stands out most is her fire and competitiveness.”

Jenner echoed that sentiment after the win. “Regardless of the bobbleheads or the occasion, we needed those points,” the Charge captain said. “But it’s special to do it on a night like this, with so many players heading to the Olympics.”

As the PWHL now pauses from Jan. 29 through Feb. 26 for the Games, the Charge ensured their Olympic send-off carried significance with late-game heroics, milestone moments, and international pride into a night that reflected both the league’s present and its global future.

Edited by Reese Dlabach