Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (38) left the ice with assistance after suffering an injury during the third period of a PWHL game in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The injury occurred when Minnesota Frost’s Taylor Heise scored a goal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
The Ottawa Charge pulled off a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday night, securing three crucial points in the Professional Women's Hockey League. The victory was especially emotional for the Charge, who had to rally after losing star goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer to injury.
The game took a dramatic turn in the third period when Ottawa, leading 2-1, watched Maschmeyer collapse on the ice after making what seemed like a routine save. Just moments earlier, she had received a standing ovation for hitting a major career milestone—her 1,000th regular-season save. The applause quickly turned to concern as she was unable to stand on her own and had to be helped off by team trainers. The team did not provide an update on her condition after the game.
Backup goaltender Gwyneth Philips entered the game with 9:55 left and immediately faced a tough challenge. Minnesota’s Taylor Heise had already cut Ottawa’s lead to 2-1, and soon after, the Frost appeared to tie the game. Initially, the goal was disallowed, but after a lengthy review, officials confirmed it was good, levelling the score at 2-2.
Despite the setback, the Charge refused to fold. Head coach Carla MacLeod rallied her team, reminding them of their resilience and pushing them to "win one for Masch."
The Charge faced even more adversity when Shiann Darkangelo took a tripping penalty with just under six minutes remaining, putting them at a disadvantage. But rather than buckle under pressure, Ottawa found a way to turn the situation in their favour.
Ronja Savolainen won a crucial battle along the boards, diving to make a desperate pass to Alexa Vasko. With determination, Vasko capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a short-handed goal to reclaim the lead for Ottawa. It was her second goal of the night and the game-winner that secured the much-needed victory.
“It’s tough seeing Masch go down, but we believe in Gwen stepping in,” Vasko said after the game. “We pulled together as a team, and it showed in the way we played.”
Minnesota, meanwhile, struggled to fully take advantage of the sudden shift in momentum. Philips, despite allowing the initial goal, only faced two shots in relief and held firm in the closing moments.
Frost head coach Ken Klee acknowledged that his team fought hard but fell short. “We battled back from two goals down, but it was a tight game. We just couldn’t find a way to finish.”
The Charge now sat five points behind the Frost, who hold the fourth and final playoff spot. However, with two games in hand and only eight games left in the season, Ottawa still has a chance to close the gap.
For MacLeod, though, the focus remains on the team’s day-to-day improvement rather than the standings. “It’s about making sure we give ourselves the best chance to win every game,” she said.
