Ottawa Charge Coach Carla MacLeod Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Head coach of the Ottawa Charge, Carla MacLeod, publicly announced on Sunday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The news was shared via a statement on the club’s website, where MacLeod expressed her determination to overcome this challenge.

“Hearing those words was incredibly difficult,” MacLeod stated. “But I want everyone to know that I’m going to be okay.” She emphasized the importance of her medical team, stating, “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.”

Background and Coaching Accomplishments

MacLeod, a native of Spruce Grove, Alberta, is a celebrated athlete, having won two Olympic gold medals while playing defense for the Canadian national team. She took the helm as head coach of the Ottawa Charge in September 2023, leading the team to the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) playoff final during her debut season, where they faced the Minnesota Frost, the eventual champions.

In addition to her role with the Charge, MacLeod is also the head coach of the Czechia women’s national team, which has qualified for the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Addressing her dual responsibilities, she acknowledged her concerns about how her treatment would affect her coaching commitments. “One of my biggest concerns, outside of my own health, was the possibility of not being able to fully support the two programs that mean so much to me,” she remarked.

Support from the Team and Future Plans

MacLeod received reassurance from her medical team that her treatment would have minimal impact on her ability to coach. “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,” she added.

She will commence her treatment this week, which means she will not be on the bench for the Charge’s upcoming home game against Minnesota. “Being with this team fuels me, and I intend to stay as connected as I can during treatment,” she stated, highlighting her commitment to her team.

The Charge’s general manager, Mike Hirshfeld, expressed solidarity with MacLeod in a 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.”

In her absence, assistant coach Haley Irwin will step in as head coach for the match against the Frost. The Ottawa Charge community, along with fans, has rallied behind MacLeod, sending their best wishes for her recovery.

As MacLeod navigates this personal challenge, her focus remains on both her health and her commitment to the teams she leads. The support from her team and the wider hockey community underscores the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.