Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod has shared a deeply personal health update, revealing she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The announcement was made public on Sunday, sending waves of support through the hockey community.
A Difficult Diagnosis and a Message of Hope
In a statement released on the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) club's official website, MacLeod acknowledged the shock of the diagnosis. "Hearing those words was incredibly difficult," MacLeod stated. However, the celebrated coach was quick to offer reassurance, adding, "but I want everyone to know that I'm going to be okay."
MacLeod expressed full confidence in her medical team and the treatment plan they have developed together. "I'm incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional medical team guiding me, and together we've built a treatment plan that gives me tremendous confidence in the road ahead," she said.
Balancing Treatment with Coaching Commitments
One of MacLeod's primary concerns following her diagnosis was the potential impact on her coaching duties. She serves not only as the head coach of the Ottawa Charge but also leads the Czechia women's national team, which recently qualified for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Thankfully, she received positive news on that front. "I finally exhaled when my medical team assured me that my treatment should have minimal impact on being present for the Charge season and that I'll still be able to coach Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games in February," MacLeod revealed.
Her treatment is scheduled to begin this week. As a direct result, she will not be behind the bench for the Charge's upcoming home game against the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday night.
Team Support and Interim Leadership
The Ottawa Charge organization and the PWHL have rallied behind their coach. Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld released a supportive statement, saying, "The Charge and League are here to support Carla throughout her treatment. Her strength, resilience, and optimism shine through in the most challenging of circumstances, and we know she'll approach this next chapter with the same determination she brings to everything she does."
During her absence, assistant coach Haley Irwin will step into the role of head coach for the game against the defending Walter Cup champions. Despite this temporary change, MacLeod intends to remain connected to her team. "Being with this team fuels me, and I intend to stay as connected as I can during treatment," she affirmed.
MacLeod, a native of Spruce Grove, Alberta, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist from her playing days on the Canadian women's defense. She was named the inaugural head coach of the Ottawa Charge in September 2023 and quickly made her mark, guiding the team to the PWHL playoff final in its first season.
