‘We were built for more’: Fleet come away empty-handed after semifinal exit
As we’ve seen so many times in sports, especially in hockey, regular-season success means next to nothing when it matters most.
The Boston Fleet can add their name to the list of teams that ultimately fell short in the postseason. After losing in double overtime in Game 4 of their Walter Cup Semifinal against the Ottawa Charge, the Fleet found themselves out of contention sooner than expected.
When speaking to the media after the defeat, first-year head coach Kris Sparre stated there was no hiding the disappointment from bowing out in the opening round of the playoffs.
“When you’re left with this sort of empty feeling that we have right now,” Sparre explained. “Our players are competitive…we wanted more. I thought we were built for more.”
The Fleet entered the postseason after a surprising 2025-26 campaign. The team that many picked to finish near the bottom of the PWHL was near the top of the table most of the year, fighting with the Montreal Victoire for first place right until the final day of the regular season. They had to settle for second place, receiving the Charge as their semifinal opponent after the Victoire elected to face the Minnesota Frost.
Even with the fact that they were facing the reigning runners-up, the Fleet were tabbed as the favorites by many to get through Ottawa, and advance to the finals for the second time. Yet, even with the likes of Aerin Frankel, Megan Keller and Alina Muller, Boston couldn’t muster up enough offense to beat Gwyneth Philips. With a couple of unlucky bounces, the Fleet were sent packing sooner than they hoped.
Sparre mentioned on Sunday evening that it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
“We threw as much as we could at Ottawa over the four games. We played physical. We blocked shots. We competed at a high level. I’m so proud of this group.”
Boston was riding high heading into the playoffs. Frankel performed at an MVP level, as she’s on a path to taking home multiple awards next month. Keller and d-partner Haley Winn are contenders for defender of the year, with Winn also in the running for rookie of the year. They were one of the hardest-checking teams in the league, entering the postseason with the second-fewest goals against in the PWHL.
Yet, as we’ve seen all too often in the team’s young history, the Fleet failed to put the puck in the back of the net. Boston outshot Ottawa in all four games, including by a 46-33 margin in the decisive fourth game on Mother’s Day.
Sparre, who is a favorite to win the coach of the year award, noted that a little bit of playoff inexperience might’ve hindered the Fleet against a Charge that had 12 returners from last year’s squad.
“We’re a team that has 12 players in our lineup that have never played a game of playoff hockey. You have to go through it to learn what it take in order to be a championship-level team…you have to be willing to put your body on the line. I’m not saying that we didn’t, because we did, but this grind, game after game, is something that our players have to go through.”
The Fleet now enters another offseason of uncertainty. Last summer, with the additions of the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Kraken, the team lost a number of key players in the expansion process, including captain Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka. This year, with the possibility of four new teams coming into the league, it’s very unlikely that this Fleet team, which possessed one of the best defenses in the PWHL, will look remotely the same, an unwanted challenge, according to Sparre.
“I’m process-driven, right? I’d love to have every player on our team back next year, so that we could go at this again. But with the challenges of expansion…I’d certainly love to have all of our players back and be able to go at this, and get a kick at the can again.”
Forward Jamie Lee Rattray has been with the Fleet since the league’s inaugural season, and is one of a few players left from the Boston roster that made it to the first-ever Walter Cup Final in 2024. She recognizes the coming expansion, even with players having more power in choosing where they play, will cause some chaos across the board.
“It’s tough as a player,” Rattray said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be here for three years and really help build this culture here. I’ve had a ton of fun doing it, and I just want to keep the same team almost every year. When you build something special, especially this year, it’s hard. It’s really, really hard.”
Taking an optimistic look at the weeks ahead, Sparre states that the Fleet can continue to build on this season, despite the fact that they’ll lose several players to expansion, seeking other talent that fits the mold the Fleet have created since Year 1.
Moving forward, there’s a certain style that we want to play,” Sparre said. “Once you get through expansion, and you’re able to build a team moving forward. You can draft players that are going to coincide with the way you want to play. You can just start really building a team, and building and developing your team, as you go.”