Ottawa Charge Players Find Inspiration in Adaptive Hockey Partnership
The Ottawa Charge professional women's hockey team experienced what captain Brianne Jenner described as "a lot of great energy" during a special Friday practice session at TD Place Arena. The source of this energy came from 59 members of the Capital City Condors, an Ottawa-based adaptive hockey organization that has been providing hockey opportunities to individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities for 18 years.
A Mutual Exchange of Passion and Joy
During the final 30 minutes of practice, it became difficult to determine which group was more energized by the experience. The young adaptive hockey players, ranging from age 6 to adults, wore broad smiles as they received passes and instruction from professional athletes. Meanwhile, the Charge players themselves were visibly moved by the interaction.
"I said to our team at the end of practice, 'The next 30 minutes is going to be the greatest experience of your week because you get a chance to fill your cup with these passionate hockey players,'" explained Charge head coach Carla MacLeod. "That's what the Condors are. Our players were skating around saying, 'This is awesome.' I think it was just a mutual cup-filling opportunity for both groups."
Captain Brianne Jenner's Special Connection
At the heart of this growing relationship between the Professional Women's Hockey League team and the adaptive hockey organization is captain Brianne Jenner. The connection began the same year the PWHL launched, when Condors founder Jim Perkins reached out to Jenner via email to invite her to meet the team.
"It was perfect timing," Jenner recalled of her initial introduction to the Condors. "And then now this year has been special, too, because I've got to meet not just Team Jenner, but the rest of the teams, and have them at the Charge games. So it's been cool, and to have 59 athletes out here today was pretty special."
That initial connection led to the creation of Team Jenner, recognized as the world's first and only all-female adaptive special hockey team.
Community Engagement and Mutual Learning
The Charge organization takes pride in having already met all its community engagement goals with nearly half a season remaining. The Condors are regular attendees at most Charge home games, where Jenner has incorporated visiting them into her pre-game routine, often providing autographs and keepsakes.
When asked what she gains from her relationship with the Condors, Jenner reflected thoughtfully. "Gosh," she said after a moment's consideration. "I think it makes you appreciate the best things that come from talking. Community, enjoying your teammates ... I think that's one thing that I've learned from the Condors. They are the best teammates to each other. They cheer to see each other's successes. They're so selfless. It's just a great reminder."
Building Lasting Connections
The Friday practice session culminated in a group photo featuring beaming faces from both organizations. The experience served as a powerful reminder of hockey's capacity to build community across different ability levels and backgrounds.
For the Charge players, the interaction provided perspective and renewed appreciation for the fundamental joys of their sport. For the Condors athletes, the opportunity to skate alongside professional women hockey players represented both inspiration and validation of their own hockey journeys.
As both organizations continue to develop their partnership, the mutual benefits extend beyond a single practice session, creating lasting connections that enrich Ottawa's hockey community.
