A New Season, A New Role: Emerance Maschmeyer on Hockey and Parenthood
Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer is heading into the second PWHL season while navigating life as a new mom.
Emerance Maschmeyer is entering the second season of the PWHL with both renewed focus and a new role—motherhood. The Ottawa Charge goaltender, who has built her career on standing tall between the pipes, now balances life on the ice with the responsibilities of being a new mom. Maschmeyer and her wife, Geneviève Lacasse, welcomed their son Beckham into the world on Sept. 8, and as she prepares for the season ahead, she is determined to lead her team to new heights while embracing the challenges and rewards of parenthood.
Eyes on the Championship
Reflecting on the highs and lows of last season, Maschmeyer and her Ottawa teammates have set their sights high for the upcoming year. Despite an impressive performance, the team narrowly missed the playoffs—a fact that still fuels their determination.
"We came up short by just one point," Maschmeyer told The Ice Garden. "That’s given us a lot of fuel to our fire. We know now more than ever how important every point is."
During the offseason, Maschmeyer has focused on preparing both physically and mentally for the grind of the new season. "Last year was a big learning curve," she admitted. "Just coming back into playing full-time in a league—it had been a little while since that’s been the case, and I got a lot of minutes last year. So, I was learning how to manage my body and mind, and now I know I have a good feel for the league and everything’s not new anymore."
This season, for Maschmeyer, is all about consistency—both in her performance and in her leadership. "It’s about making sure that I’m doing everything I can to stay mentally and physically ready for each game," she said. "For me, it’s just showing up for my team every single day and playing consistently."
The second season of the PWHL brings fresh challenges and opportunities, but with the introduction of official team names and logos, there’s a stronger sense of identity and pride across the league. For Maschmeyer, this shift marks a pivotal moment for women’s hockey. "Last year, we were playing for the league and women’s hockey," she explained. "It was super exciting and monumental. But this season, we’re coming in and we’re playing for Ottawa, and we now have an identity—that’s really exciting."
Motherhood and Hockey
While hockey remains central to Maschmeyer’s life, her world has expanded since the birth of her son Beckham. The experience of becoming a mother has brought a new perspective to how she approaches the game.
"I've put so much time and energy into hockey, and everything in my life revolved around the game," she explained. "But now, if I'm having an off day or things aren't going well, Beckham reminds me it's a game and that there's tomorrow—you can work at it tomorrow."
This shift in perspective has been invaluable as she prepares for the upcoming season. "There are always ups and downs, but instead of diving deep into those emotions, it's kind of like water off a duck's back," Maschmeyer said with a laugh. "He gives me that perspective."
Like many athlete-parents, Maschmeyer has faced the challenge of balancing the demands of training and motherhood, especially with a newborn. However, Maschmeyer credits her wife and support system for helping her maintain her focus. "I've had to adjust my training schedule a little bit, but I have a great partner. Geneviève has been stepping up big—when I have training, she's been the number one caretaker of Beckham. We have a really good team and support system, so luckily I haven't had to alter my training much."
Her teammates, too, have rallied around her and her family, offering help in big and small ways. "The girls love babies, and everyone’s just so willing to help," Maschmeyer shared. "Everyone has put their name in to be a babysitter at some point."
Inspiring the Next Generation
As she steps into this season, Maschmeyer knows that her role extends beyond the rink. She hopes to inspire the next generation of female hockey players, particularly those who may be considering balancing family life with a professional career.
"It's tough for women athletes," she said. "If you're the one planning on carrying, it takes a toll on your body, and there's a recovery period after. That can be discouraging if you want to continue your career but also have a family."
Despite the challenges, Maschmeyer encourages others not to wait. "There's nothing like becoming a mother—it's so rewarding, it's the best thing ever. As women athletes, we are strong. We figure it out. We've been figuring it out for years. You just become supermom and find a way to manage your time."
Her message is simple: "Don't wait—just do it. You'll figure it out."
Maschmeyer’s impact extends even further as a role model for the LGBTQ+ community. She and her wife Geneviève, a former hockey player, have become visible figures for young queer athletes and families, using their platform to share their personal journey.
"We weren't really public about our relationship for many years," Maschmeyer revealed. "We didn't want the narrative to be about our relationship—we wanted it to be about our hockey careers. But after Geneviève retired, we made the conscious commitment to talking about our story and being open."
Since becoming more public about their relationship and family, the couple has seen firsthand how much their visibility means to others. "We've had people reach out and say thank you for sharing your story," Maschmeyer said. "Even now, we want to share our fertility story. It’s a little scary to share personal details, but it's been so rewarding to see the conversations it's sparked."
For Maschmeyer, sharing their story is about more than just visibility. "If it helps a handful of people in the community, it's worth it," she said.
Comments ()