For a league built on atmosphere, the Walter Cup keeps getting won in silence. The Minnesota Frost won the Walter Cup on the road in both 2024 and 2025. In 2026, the Montréal Victoire came ready to do the same in Ottawa, becoming the first Canadian team to lift the Walter Cup – not in front of their own fans, but by silencing nearly 13,000 opposing ones.

Ottawa had scored what looked like a season-saving goal late in Game 3 against the Montréal Victoire, sending nearly 17,000 fans into chaos before the play was sent to review. White towels stopped spinning. Fans froze mid-celebration. Some stared at the jumbotron while others refused to look at all.

After a 2-1 victory in Game 1 on Thursday, the Boston Fleet returned to Tsongas Center on May 2 looking to take a commanding lead in Round 1 of the Walter Cup Playoffs. Instead, the Ottawa Charge responded with a strong performance, earning a 3–1 win to even the series.

On the final day of the regular season, the Boston Fleet took on the New York Sirens in a game with major playoff implications. A regulation win combined with a Montréal loss of any kind, or an overtime/shootout win paired with a Montréal regulation loss, would have secured first place in the league for Boston—and with it, the right to select their playoff opponent. With the first game of the day, it was up to the Fleet to put themselves in a good position and see how the sta