But even though it’s the first time the Andover, Minn., native has been in the post-season spotlight after scoring two goals and nine points in the regular season, this gritty forward’s contributions are felt every time she steps on the ice. “You just watch her and she’s just relentless on the ice, she’s obviously a tremendous skater, and obviously she’s doing a lot of the little things that sometimes you don’t see on the score sheet,” said Charge head coach Carla MacLeod. The Charge got
exactly what it was asking for when selecting the University of Minnesota captain in the fourth round of the 2025 draft: a player who wins puck battles in the corners, thinks defensively and exemplifies a strong hockey IQ. Those are characteristics which may not always be noticed or recognized, until moments like this one when Hemp drove hard to the net and found herself in the right place at the right time. “She just won her race to the net, and it’s thrilling when players
are rewarded for doing the right things, and she’s a great player for us and has been all season,” MacLeod said. But at draft time last June, the Charge probably never expected the 23-year-old fourth rounder to be playing 20 minutes a game on the team’s top shutdown line in the post-season.
Peyton Hemp, Ottawa Charge, Carla MacLeod, University of Minnesota, 2025 draft, Andover Minnesota, hockey IQ, shutdown line, corners