The Ottawa Charge will be without their captain next season as Brianne Jenner is set to join a PWHL expansion franchise. The 35-year-old forward from Oakville, Ont. has worn the “C” since the Charge’s inaugural 2023-24 season, and in a post on social media on Friday, Jenner announced she would not be returning to Ottawa next season. “It was an absolute pleasure to step on the ice in front of the best fans in the PWHL. The way you have welcomed this team is what made my time here so special,” she wrote. Jenner says she intended to finish her career in Ottawa, but the organization “decided to move in a different direction, and my time here has come to a close.” In a news release, PWHL Hamilton, one of four expansion teams joining the league this year, said Jenner signed a three-year contract with the team — the first signing in the franchise’s history. In a statement on Instagram, the Ottawa Charge thanked Jenner for her time with the team. “There couldn’t have been a better person to lead this team into battle right from day 1,” the Ottawa Charge wrote. “You lead with determination, professionalism, and heart. You set the standard every day, both at the rink and in the community. You didn’t just wear the ‘C’, you embodied everything it represents.” The Ottawa Charge decided not to name Jenner to their three-person expansion protection list, opting instead to protect forward Rebecca Leslie, goaltender Gwyneth Philips and defender Ronja Savolainen. PWHL Hamilton will be joining the league alongside teams in Detroit, Las Vegas and San Jose. Instead of the traditional expansion draft format, the PWHL has implemented a six-phase “Expansion Roster Distribution Process,” in which the new clubs will build their teams through negotiations with unprotected players, free agent and players on expiring contracts.
