Charge add Hughes to protected list after losing Maschmeyer, Serdachny

The Ottawa Charge added forward Gabbie Hughes to their protected list as part of the PWHL's expansion process, the team announced Thursday.

The Charge's fourth protection slot was triggered after they lost goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer to Vancouver and forward Danielle Serdachny to Seattle.

Hughes joins forward Emily Clark, defender Ronja Savolainen, and goaltender Gwyneth Philips as the Charge's protected players. Ottawa will lose two more players throughout the expansion process and won't be able to protect any one else.

The remaining unprotected Charge players include forwards Brianne Jenner, Mannon McMahon, Anna Meixner, and Katerina Mrazova, plus defenders Ashton Bell, Jocelyne Larocque, Stephanie Markowski, Aneta Tejralova, and Madeline Wethington.

Hughes tallied five goals and 16 points in 29 games this season to rank fourth on Ottawa in scoring, and she ranked second among Charge forwards by averaging 18:22. Hughes added three assists in eight playoff contests as the Charge lost in Game 4 of the Walter Cup final. She centered Ottawa's top line and played key matchup minutes in defensive situations.

The 25-year-old notched nine goals and 12 points in the 2024 campaign. She was drafted 20th overall by the Charge in the 2023 PWHL Draft out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Hughes is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.