Who is she?
Emerance Maschmeyer is a professional hockey player from Bruderheim, Alta. who plays goal with Ottawa’s PWHL team, now called the Charge.
What’s her background?
Maschmeyer spent several years playing professional hockey before signing with Ottawa last year. She won gold at the Canadian Winter Games in 2011 with the Alberta team. She joined the Harvard Crimson team in 2012. During her time at Harvard, Maschmeyer made 2,538 saves, with an overall 0.940 save percentage.
What is she known for in Ottawa?
In 2022, Maschmeyer, as part of Team Canada, won gold at the Beijing Olympics. She is expected to return to the Olympics for the 2026 Winter Games.
The PWHL was founded in 2023 and will play its second season this year. Maschmeyer signed to Ottawa before the draft on Sept. 5, 2023, becoming the starting goaltender and one of the first three players officially on contract.
What do people say about her?
“I just think she’s a great role model. She is married to a female goalie so she’s representing other communities. A big thing is that kids and especially young girls watch her play and think ‘Yeah, I can do that,’ ” says Ottawa Citizen columnist Bruce Deachman.
Deachman met Maschmeyer last April when attending one of her practices. He also had the opportunity to meet many of her young fans. “When I was speaking to kids at games, the number of them that looked up to her, particularly her, was quite striking,” says Deachman.
Theresa Kelly, hockey fan and member of the LGBTQ community, reflects Deachman’s sentiment.
“Masch has impacted me as a person. Seeing her live so authentically; she doesn’t care if people have something to say about her being openly queer, she just lives her life happily,” says Kelly.
What is a fun fact about her?
“She has a saying on her helmet that ‘Destiny is earned’ and I think that that is so true and something that I continue to work hard for while enjoying the process,” says Crystal Lam, a long-time Maschmeyer supporter and active member of Red Scarf Union – Ottawa Charge Supporters Group.
Maschmeyer has had this phrase on her helmet since she was a girl.
