Kendra Woodland walked into a meeting with Ottawa Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld and head coach Carla MacLeod fearing her Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) dreams were about to be crushed.
The 25-year-old goaltender from Kamloops was summoned for the gathering with team brass on Nov. 18, one day after allowing two goals on 12 shots in her only pre-season appearance, the 3-0 loss to the visiting Toronto Sceptres marking the end of a two-week tryout with the club.
“You just hope for the best going in that room with them,” Woodland said. “I think my method is, I always just prepare for the worst, just so that if the best happens, you’re just excited and, if the worst happens, then you’re almost prepared for it.”
Woodland emerged from the meeting with a piece of hockey history, accepting a contract offer to become the first PWHLer from Kamloops.
“I just let out a massive breath,” Woodland said. “I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for a year and a half, but yeah, obviously flooding with emotion. I started to cry a little bit — just super, super happy.”
Woodland backstopped Canada to gold at the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York, and won bronze with the national team at the 2018 Under-18 World Women’s Hockey Championship in Moscow, Russia.
A star for the New Brunswick Reds from 2018 to 2024, she was named U Sports women’s hockey player of the year and was runner-up for the U Sports Female Athlete of the Year Award for 2022-2023.
She helped the Reds win three consecutive Atlantic University Sport titles, but transitioning to the pro ranks proved difficult despite international and post-secondary success.
Woodland’s eligibility for the PWHL Draft expired after she was passed over in 2024 and 2025.
She was discouraged, but persevered.
Ottawa and the Montréal Victoire reached out to Woodland following the 2025 draft and she chose to sign a Training Camp Player Agreement with the Charge after discussion with agents.
The one-year deal she signed last month is worth somewhere in the range of U.S. $40,000.
“I called my mom first and then my dad immediately after, shared some tears with both of them,” said Woodland, who attended Westsyde secondary and Westmount elementary. “It was pretty exciting and I think equally as rewarding for them. They’ve seen me play and train and just work so hard for something for so long that once you achieve, they’re just so excited.”
Woodland was third on the Charge’s goaltending depth chart as of the Chronicle’s publication deadline, behind starter Gwyneth Philips and backup Sanni Ahola.
Philips captured the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award last season after posting a 1.23 goals against average and .952 save percentage in eight-post season games. The Charge selected Ahola of St. Cloud State University in the fifth round of the 2025 PWHL Draft.
While third on the depth chart, Woodland travels and practices with the club, but does not dress on game days.
“The message is anything can happen and, regardless, you just need to be ready,” Woodland said. “Especially with expansion coming, it could mean anything, right? I think this is just a foot in the door. I’d love to stick here. I love Ottawa. I love the team. I love the community so far, but we’ll see where the wind blows and where it takes me.”
The eight-team PWHL is likely to expand next season, with the potential for as many as four new franchises to join the circuit, according to the Hockey News.
“I think my role will be to be the hardest worker on the ice, highest compete level, but never satisfied with the spot, just constantly competing and being the best possible teammate,” Woodland said. “Work really hard and see where it goes.”