Ottawa now a destination for PWHL players following inaugural season, GM says
PWHL Ottawa's inaugural season ended in heartbreak on the ice, but the first season of professional women's hockey in Ottawa was an overall success.
Toronto beat Ottawa 5-2 in the PWHL regular season finale Sunday night, eliminating Ottawa from the postseason. Ottawa needed to beat Toronto in regulation to clinch a playoff spot.
"Of course, we're disappointed," Ottawa general manager Mike Hirshfeld told TSN 1200 Monday morning. "We've worked incredibly hard over the last eight months to build this organization and I know the players have put their hearts and souls in it. Disappointed to miss; we definitely had our opportunities."
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Ottawa ended the season with three straight losses to Montreal, New York and Toronto.
"Really proud of our group. There were a lot of ups and downs this year, but really stuck together as a team and played incredibly hard."
Hirshfeld says the team will look to improve in the offseason.
"We definitely need some more scoring, we need some more help upfront," Hirshfeld told TSN Mornings with John Rodenburg and Steve Lloyd.
The inaugural season was a success off the ice, with PWHL Ottawa leading the league in attendance. Hirshfeld says players "want to come to Ottawa."
"I think we've changed that impression, we've changed that dynamic. Players now want to come to Ottawa," Hirshfeld said, noting some players didn't know about Ottawa before the first season. "Players have seen the success and the fan hood and what happens every home game at TD Place, and I have players calling me saying, 'how do I get to Ottawa?'"
"Everyone wants to come to Ottawa, so I don't foresee that as a problem at all."
PWHL Ottawa kicked off its season on Jan. 2, with 8,318 fans packing TD Place for the game against Montreal. The game set a record for attendance at a professional women's hockey game, before new records being set in Minnesota, Toronto and Montreal.
"I'm really proud of this team," Hirshfeld said. "I'm really proud of what they did on the ice, but I'm really proud of what they did off the ice."
"Just the way they connected the community and, again, really thrilled with our fan base and the fans here in Ottawa how they supported us."
Overall, PWHL Ottawa averaged 7,496 fans for the 12 home games at TD Place, with the highest attendance of 8,452 fans for the April 27 game against Montreal.
"It was an amazing first season for our heroes," Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said on social media. "Thanks for the unforgettable moments and see you next year."
Hirshfeld says "100 per cent" there will be opportunities to play at least one game at Canadian Tire Centre next season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Josef Newgarden becomes first back-to-back Indy 500 winner in 22 years
Josef Newgarden put his cheating scandal behind him to become the first back-to-back winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 22 years.