Leslie, House Re-Sign with Ottawa as PWHL Rosters Take Shape
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By Milica Zivic
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Summary:
- Rebecca Leslie has inked a two-year extension through the 2026-27 season with the Ottawa Charge.
- Taylor House has signed a one-year deal for the 2025-26 season.
- Ottawa has lost Natalie Snodgrass to Seattle and Jincy Roese to New York in free agency.
The Ottawa Charge are locking in key players ahead of the PWHL’s third season, re-signing hometown forward Rebecca Leslie to a two-year deal and extending Taylor House for another year.
They are the first players Ottawa has re-inked this off-season.
GM Hirshfeld: Leslie, “an Instrumental Part” of the Team
Leslie, a 29-year-old Ottawa native, played in all 27 regular-season games, tallying one goal and two assists. She stepped up in the postseason, adding two goals and an assist during the Charge’s run to the Walter Cup final.
Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld said,
Since joining our team last season, Rebecca has been an instrumental part of our team on and off the ice.
Hirshfeld also praised the player’s involvement in the community while calling her “an experienced leader in the locker room” with “good hockey sense” as well as one of their “best forwards” during their run to the finals.
We’re thrilled to keep her home for the next two seasons.
Leslie also expressed her excitement for being back in Ottawa and playing in front of their fans for the upcoming two seasons.
It’s my first two-year deal in the PWHL. It shows that the team believes in me and that I can still grow as a player. I want to continue where I left off.
Hirshfeld on Taylor: “We Like Her Compete Level”
Joliet, Illinois-born Taylor House earned her spot on the team through a training camp invite and initially began on the reserve list.
The 26-year-old Quinnipiac University graduate made the most of her opportunity, scoring once and adding an assist in 15 regular-season appearances, while suiting up in five playoff games.
GM Hirshfeld called Taylor “a nice addition out of training camp” while discussing her ability to always stay positive and work hard during practices, which propelled her into the lineup.
She has a physical presence during the games and we like her compete level. We think there’s still a lot of upside to her game in this league.
With Leslie and House returning, the Charge now have nine players under contract, including captain Brianne Jenner, Gabbie Hughes, Emily Clark, and goaltender Gwyneth Philips.
Meanwhile, Ottawa saw two players depart. Forward Natalie Snodgrass signed a one-year deal with expansion team PWHL Seattle, after registering eight points in 44 games with the Charge.
Veteran defender Jincy Roese joined the New York Sirens following two seasons in Ottawa, where she served as an alternate captain.
More League Movements
Elsewhere in the league, Toronto re-signed forward Maggie Connors of St. John’s, N.L., to a one-year deal. Connors had two goals in 30 regular-season games and chipped in a goal and an assist during the playoffs.
Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury said
With her skill set, her potential, and the fact she has been in our environment for the past two seasons, we believe Maggie will have a great season ahead
In other moves, the Boston Fleet added two new forwards: Liz Schepers, fresh off a Walter Cup win with Minnesota, signed a two-year contract, while France’s Chloé Aurard inked a one-year deal.
The 2025 PWHL Draft is set for June 24 in Ottawa.
