In retrospect, the Ottawa Charge’s 2025 draft might have been quietly one of the best in the league. It wasn’t flashy, and there were some questions about how well players would transition from the ZhHL (the Russian league).

But Ottawa have gotten a lot out of their draft picks. Consider how forwards Sarah Wozniewicz (21st pick), Peyton Hemp (29th pick), and Fanuza Kadirova (45th pick) have stepped up in key moments. Or how defender Rory Guilday (5th pick) brings physicality and a powerful point shot. Even Kate Reilly, a training camp invite, has seen more success since the Olympic break.

What have these first-year players brought and what will they bring to a team scrambling for a playoff spot?

Key pieces in March

In March, the first-year players picked up 12 combined points across six games. In the 4–3 win over Seattle on March 4, Hemp recorded one assist, Reilly assisted both Clark and Kadirova, and Kadirova scored the game-winner with under two minutes left.

On March 14 against Vancouver, Wozniewicz assisted on Kadirova’s power play goal, then scored the tying goal with less than a minute left to send the game to OT, where Leslie (who else) claimed the victory.

Another win against Seattle, on March 29, came thanks to Wozniewicz, who opened the scoring with a primary assist from Reilly, and Hemp, who recorded her first career goal to provide the insurance.

Game-winner Woz

With two NCAA championships under her belt with the University of Wisconsin, Sarah Wozniewicz is no stranger to big moments. In the WCHA 2025 Final Face-Off, she scored the game-winning goal with under 30 seconds left to claim the WCHA title.

The forward from Cochrane, Alberta, brought that same clutchness to Ottawa. She’s tied with Leslie and the Frost’s Kelly Pannek with four game-winning goals. Two of those goals are overtime winners—the most among PWHL rookies. Her 58 shots put her fourth among rookies, and 18 of those have come in the last five games. With five goals and five assists, she’s been a consistent contributor for the Charge both before and after the Olympic break.

Counting on Kadirova for scoring

Fanuza Kadirova is not technically a rookie, as she was born in 1998. But her first year in the league has proved the ZhHL doubters wrong. With nine goals and two assists, she’s fourth in points on the team and is tied with Jenner for second-most goals. She’s shooting at 23.7% and has three power play points.

Along with Leslie, the forward from Kukmor, Tatarstan, has helped fill the goal-scoring gap left by the absence of Tereza Vanišová and Shiann Darkangelo and the quieter season from Emily Clark. Kadirova has been consistent, putting up four goals before the Olympics and five goals since, including a game-winner.

Post-Olympics breakouts from Hemp and Reilly

Peyton Hemp, out of the University of Minnesota, has played a key role on the Charge’s penalty kill. Over the last few games, she has been a speedy winger alongside Gabbie Hughes and Emily Clark. After putting up four assists before the Olympics, she scored her first career goal on March 29 against Seattle.

A training camp invite, defender Kate Reilly started her season with Ottawa as an occasional healthy scratch. Her minutes have increased, with an average of over 20 minutes per game in the last five games. She had a standout game on March 4, picking up her first two points, including a beautiful rush-and-toe-drag play to set up Clark. Her four points have all come since the Olympic break, and she’s playing in an elevated role on the second pairing alongside Larocque.

Quieter seasons than expected for Guilday and Ahola

Ottawa’s first-round draft pick, Rory Guilday, has played big minutes all season. Her 47 hits are third in the league and most among rookies and Charge players. However, her one goal and seven assists all came before the Olympic break. Her defensive game remains decently strong, but she hasn’t brought quite as much offence from the blueline as expected.

Finnish goaltender Sanni Ahola has unfortunately dealt with injury and illness for the majority of the season. She’s played in only two games, including a shootout win against Boston in January. Ahola hasn’t played since, but she was back at practice in early April. However, with a playoff spot on the line, the Charge may not want to put a relatively untested goaltender in the crease.

Playoff push with four games left

While still led by veterans Rebecca Leslie, Brianne Jenner, and Gabbie Hughes, these first-year players may yet help the Charge claim that final playoff spot.