Carla MacLeod, the head coach of the Ottawa Charge, has revealed that she is battling breast cancer, as announced by the team on Sunday. In a statement released by the PWHL club, MacLeod expressed the difficulty of hearing the diagnosis but assured everyone that she is optimistic about her recovery. She emphasized her gratitude for the medical team supporting her and outlined a treatment plan that gives her confidence for the future.
Despite starting treatment this week, MacLeod intends to resume coaching duties for the Charge this season and lead the Czech women’s ice hockey team at the Winter Olympics in February. However, she will be absent from the upcoming game on December 2, with assistant coach Haley Irwin stepping in to lead the team in her absence.
MacLeod, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in women’s hockey and coach of the Charge since the PWHL’s inaugural 2023-24 season, has received unwavering support from both her team and the league. Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld praised MacLeod’s strength, resilience, and optimism, expressing confidence in her ability to face this new challenge with determination.