On Saturday, the Ottawa Charge took on the Boston Fleet at TD Place in a matchup that had important implications for both teams. With the Charge being a spot away from playoff contention and the Fleet on the verge of taking the second seed, both teams put on an intense and physical battle on the ice. But at the end of the 60 minutes, it’s the Fleet that came out on top, with a final score of 5-2.
The PWHL Trade Deadline
Boston’s victory is a testament to the trust put in the players this second half of the season. With the PWHL trade window closing last Thursday, the team decided not to make any moves.
If Boston’s front office has faith in their team, so does Ottawa’s, which also opted to keep the group intact at the deadline. Charge’s General Manager, Mike Hirshfeld, notably stated on X, “No trades for us today at the deadline. We believe strongly in this group and are excited to battle for a playoff spot over the next 8 games.”
But if both teams were conservative last Thursday, the story was different a few months ago when the Charge and the Fleet were at the center of two of the biggest blockbuster trades in the PWHL.
Important Acquisitions
On December 30th, 2024, Ottawa acquired Jocelyne Larocque and Victoria Bach from Toronto in exchange for Hayley Scamurra and Savannah Harmon. The trade sent shockwaves through the women’s hockey world. By acquiring three-time Olympic medalist Larocque, the Charge got not only a natural leader, but also a veteran who could push Ottawa’s defense to new levels. As for Bach, the 2022 Olympics alternate had the opportunity to bring her offensive skills to the Charge while getting a fresh start with a new team.
Looking at the Fleet, Boston sent Taylor Girard to New York in favor of two-time Olympic medalist Jill Saulnier on January 21st, 2025. The trade, which was also an unexpected move, had the potential to bring the Fleet more energy in attack. Since joining the Fleet, Saulnier has answered the call. She was notably one of the brightest sparks for the Fleet in this past Saturday’s game. Apart from ending the game with one goal and one assist, number 44’s ability to drive to the net and her work ethic allowed Boston to have the upper hand almost every time she stepped on the ice.
“You know that’s part of pro sports…this league is what we fought so hard for and it's a part of it.”
The Impacts of Trades on Players
Behind statistics and locker room impact, trades in the PWHL also have an important effect on the players’ lives. When Larocque was traded after spending the better part of her career in the Greater Toronto Region, she had to play her old team the next day. “I mean, I’m feeling a lot of shock. I don’t even think I've allowed myself to process it. Just seeing how there was a game so close when I found out that I was traded. So my mind was just like get ready for the game coming up, and then tomorrow I can figure out you know my emotions and where I’m gonna live…,” Larocque said during the postgame interview.
When traded, players are expected to leave their lives behind and report to their new team almost immediately. This can cause a lot of stress and emotions for players, especially those with families. But in contrast to the CWHL, the former league in which a lot of PWHL players played in, the PWHL offers contracted players an environment and salaries that allow them to focus solely on their hockey careers.
This is a positive because it limits the worries of players being traded to another city and losing their other financial income. “You know that’s part of pro sports…this league is what we fought so hard for and it's a part of it,” Larocque adds. Although trades represent difficult moments for players to go through, they also serve as a step towards further professionalizing women’s hockey in North America.
The Next Goals
At this stage in the season, it’s clear that both front offices have confidence in their teams and believe that the players they acquired by trade over the winter will help them get to the playoffs.
Making bold trades is one way to showcase the league’s growth. By expanding the number of teams, roster sizes, and number of contracts, the PWHL would open doors for more trades and, ultimately, for players to obtain more power in trade negotiations.
