Ottawa Senators Women's Hockey Club facts for kids

The Ottawa Senators Women's Hockey Club is a group of women's ice hockey teams based in Ottawa, Ontario, in Canada. The club has teams for different age groups. Its top team plays in the Ontario Women's Hockey League (OWHL).

In the past, the club had a senior-level team that played in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL). This team was once known as the Ottawa Capital Canucks and the Ottawa Raiders.

History of the Team

The logo used when the team was called the Ottawa Raiders.

The club has gone through several name changes and has played in different leagues over the years.

Early Years and Name Changes

The team started in 1998 as the National Capital Raiders. A year later, in 1999, they changed their name to the Ottawa Raiders. As the Raiders, they played in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) until the league closed down in 2007.

For the 2007-2008 season, the team became the Ottawa Capital Canucks. They joined a new league called the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL). During this time, they played their home games at the Sandy Hill Arena in Ottawa.

Partnership with the NHL's Senators

A big change happened in 2008. The team joined forces with the Kanata Girls Hockey Association. This new, larger organization was named the Ottawa Senators Women's Hockey Club. It received sponsorship from the famous Ottawa Senators NHL team.

This new club had three teams:

• A Senior AAA team that played in the CWHL.
• An Intermediate team that joined the Provincial Women's Hockey League.
• A Midget AA team that played in various tournaments.

The club moved its home base to the Bell Sensplex, a large arena in the Kanata area of Ottawa.

In 2010, the CWHL decided to have fewer teams. The senior Ottawa Senators team was shut down and no longer plays in the CWHL. However, the club's other teams, like the Intermediate AA team, continued. This team now plays in the Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite, which used to be called the Provincial Women's Hockey League.

Famous Former Players

Many talented players have been part of the club's Intermediate AA team. Some have even played for their country's national team. means the player was on Canada's senior national team.

• Kateřina Bukolská – Played for several teams in Europe, including Leksands IF.
• Fannie Desforges – Played for the Montreal Stars.
• Erica Howe – Played for the Markham Thunder and PWHL Toronto.
• Rebecca Leslie – Played for the Calgary Inferno, PWHL Toronto, and Ottawa Charge.
• Amanda Leveille – Played for the Buffalo Beauts, Minnesota Whitecaps, and Minnesota Frost.
• Stefanie McKeough
• Jamie Lee Rattray – Played for the Markham Thunder and Boston Fleet.