Ottawa Charge Set for PWHL Takeover Tour Opener in Chicago

The Ottawa Charge will kick off their participation in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Takeover Tour on March 10, 2024, facing off against the Minnesota Frost at Allstate Arena in Chicago. This matchup not only marks a rematch of last season’s Walter Cup final but also offers a significant homecoming for players Taylor House and Kendall Coyne Schofield, both hailing from Illinois.

House, a 27-year-old centre for the Charge, grew up in Joliet, while Coyne Schofield, the 33-year-old captain of the Frost and the league’s leading goal-scorer, is from Palos Heights. Both players are excited to return to their roots, where they developed their passion for hockey.

“I’m super excited, just being able to play that close to home,” House said during a Zoom call on Wednesday. “The closest we usually get is Minnesota. Last year I got a St. Louis game, but that’s still a five-hour drive from Joliet.” House reminisced about her childhood experiences watching the Chicago Blackhawks and skating on the ice in Rosemont during intermissions at Wolves games. The anticipation surrounding Sunday’s game has generated a strong response from her local community.

“Once this game was announced, the feedback I got was that everyone wants to come. Our whole club wants to go, and we have a big group coming,” House added. She emphasized the significance of playing a professional women’s hockey game in Illinois, stating, “It’s huge for us.”

Chicago is a focal point for the PWHL, which is set to expand for the second consecutive year next season. House believes that the enthusiasm from local fans will underscore the city’s potential as a viable market for women’s hockey. “I think everyone will be really excited to see this product on the ice,” she expressed.

The current season plans to feature a total of 16 neutral-site games, an increase from last year’s schedule. In the previous season, 123,601 fans attended nine Takeover Tour games. The 2024 event will span 112 days and include matches across 11 different locations. New cities on the tour include Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Halifax, Hamilton, Washington D.C., and Winnipeg. Returning venues include Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, and Quebec City.

All teams in the PWHL will participate in the Takeover Tour, with the Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, and Vancouver Goldeneyes involved in five games each. The Charge, along with the Seattle Torrent, will play in four, while the Boston Fleet, Frost, and Sceptres will feature in three.

In addition to the game against Minnesota, the Charge will face the Boston Fleet on January 11, 2024, at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, challenge Montreal on March 22, 2024, at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, and compete against Toronto on April 1, 2024, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

Last season, the Charge had a mixed performance in the Takeover Tour, with one win, one overtime loss, and two defeats. Their results included a narrow 2-1 loss to Montreal in Quebec City, a 3-2 overtime defeat to Toronto in Edmonton, and a significant 5-0 loss to the Frost in Raleigh, North Carolina, before securing a victory against Boston, winning 2-1 in St. Louis.

As the Charge prepare for their upcoming match, the excitement surrounding the Takeover Tour is palpable, promising to showcase the growing popularity and potential of women’s hockey across North America.