Charge head coach Carla MacLeod returns to bench to ‘overwhelming’ reception

Ottawa Charge's Fanuza Kadirova (hidden) celebrates her goal against the Toronto Sceptres with teammates during a PWHL game in Toronto on Dec. 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

TORONTO — Carla MacLeod was back on the bench Thursday night, an experience she said was better than watching from her parents’ couch.

The Ottawa Charge head coach returned to the helm in a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Sceptres after missing Tuesday’s game against Minnesota. MacLeod was home in Calgary to consult an oncology team to determine a treatment plan following her recent breast cancer diagnosis.

“I was glad to be back,” MacLeod said. “Obviously missed the group but it was an important part of my journey to be able to go home. But yeah, always thrilled to be back with this group.

“It’s a great team and obviously so early in the season here, it’s fun just to be building together.”

MacLeod announced her cancer diagnosis on Saturday. In a statement, she also pointed out her medical team informed her she’d be able to balance her treatment with coaching the Charge and Czechia’s women’s national team at the upcoming Olympics in Italy.

Her return to the bench happened to fall on the Sceptres’ ‘Stick It To Cancer Night.’ The 43-year-old was recognized during the third period and given a standing ovation from the crowd.

Former Sceptres goaltender Erica Howe, a breast cancer survivor, was also on hand for the ceremonial puck drop wearing MacLeod’s Canada jersey from the latter’s playing days.

“It’s mind blowing to me,” MacLeod said. “I just think it speaks to this community, the hockey community. I think it speaks to the impact cancer has on all of our lives and how these moments, just everything from a competitive piece just falls away and it’s just a human piece.

“It’s really, really overwhelming for me. I’m so grateful. I’m so grateful. It’s just been this whole massive wave of just love. But I just hope to pay it forward ... but this reception, I just can’t even articulate. It’s overwhelming but in the best way possible.”

Following the game, Sceptres players also lined up to give MacLeod a hug, with some having words with the coach.

“Just to be able to tell her that we’re here for you, we’re rooting for you,” Sceptres star Natalie Spooner said. “I think that was everything we could have done and she said she’s strong, she’s got this battle, so I’m sure the whole league, not just our team, will be alongside her in this and rooting for her and supporting her on her journey.”

The 43-year-old MacLeod, from Spruce Grove, Alta., won Olympic gold with Team Canada as a player at the 2006 Turin and 2010 Vancouver Games before retiring and moving into coaching.

“It sums up Carla, it sums up our team, it some sums up the PWHL and even seeing Howie step on the ice wearing Carla’s jersey is just a special tribute, and it just sums up the whole atmosphere and what we’re trying to accomplish here with the PWHL,” Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said.

“You can battle and scratch and claw each other as much as you want, try to compete, but when it all comes down to it there’s bigger things out there than hockey.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2025.

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press