Charge's Youthful Reset
Ottawa Charge Plans Reset and Reload Strategy Around Young Core
The Ottawa Charge is betting on youth after a tough offseason. General Manager Mike Hirshfeld officially called the team's strategy a "reset and reload" on June 26, describing a plan built around players in their mid-20s rather than established veterans. The move comes after Ottawa lost captain Brianne Jenner and assistant captain Emily Clark to the expansion Hamilton franchise in the PWHL's 2026 expansion draft. Ottawa Citizen reported the team's median age has dropped to just under 26 years old.
Ottawa has now reached the Walter Cup Finals in back-to-back seasons — and lost both times. Hirshfeld said the answer is not to chase short-term fixes but to "build around this younger core." The roster currently has 16 players under contract for the 2026-27 season, Ottawa Sun reported.
Losing Jenner and Clark Forced a Roster Overhaul
The "reset" was not a choice Ottawa made freely. The 2026 PWHL Expansion Draft brought four new teams — Hamilton, Vegas, Vancouver, and Seattle — and Ottawa paid a steep price. The Charge lost its two top leaders: Jenner, the captain, and Clark, the assistant captain, both went to Hamilton. Only two players from Ottawa's 2024 inaugural roster remain on the current squad, according to National Post.
Hirshfeld said the losses were painful but created an opening. Rather than replace aging stars with more aging stars, he chose to reset the roster's age profile entirely. The result is a team built around players who are 24 to 26 years old and, in theory, entering the best years of their careers.
Jenna Buglioni Acquired as the Centerpiece of the Youth Push
The boldest move of the offseason came on June 19. Ottawa acquired 24-year-old forward Jenna Buglioni from the Seattle Torrent in exchange for just a fifth-round pick. Buglioni was the 8th overall pick in the 2025 PWHL Draft and a two-time NCAA champion at Ohio State, where she put up 166 points in 170 college games and scored 16 game-winning goals, according to The Province.
Her pro debut did not go as planned. Buglioni went scoreless in 18 games with Seattle last season. Hirshfeld called the trade "high-risk, high-reward" and said he believes she will "regain her college dominance with the right usage" in Ottawa. Some Seattle fans blamed a lingering concussion for her struggles. Ottawa's front office is betting the real version of Buglioni has not shown up yet, Calgary Sun noted.
Larocque Re-Signed to Bridge the Generation Gap
Not everything about the reset involves young players. Ottawa re-signed 38-year-old defender Jocelyne Larocque to a one-year contract in June. Larocque is the oldest player in the PWHL. Hirshfeld said she had interest from Hamilton — close to her hometown — but chose to stay because she was "convicted about our plan," according to Woodstock Sentinel Review.
Larocque's role is not to score. She is expected to provide defensive stability and mentorship to a locker room full of players still learning what it takes to win in the playoffs. Ottawa has now lost two straight finals, and experience at key moments has been a clear weakness.
Captaincy Remains Undecided as Leadership Vacuum Looms
With Jenner gone, the Charge have no captain. Hirshfeld has not named a replacement and said there will be a "larger number of candidates" considered before training camp in September. Forward Gabbie Hughes, 24, is seen as a top candidate. She finished third in team scoring last season with 16 points and is viewed as the on-ice engine of the young core, Fort Saskatchewan Record reported.
The lack of a decided captain adds short-term risk. Some analysts worry that a roster this young — with a median age under 26 — may struggle in high-pressure playoff moments without a proven voice in the room. The 2026-27 season will be a real test of whether Hirshfeld's "reset and reload" produces results faster than a traditional rebuild.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
8
Articles
7
Reach
8
