Honourable senators, I should be speaking about Esther, but I won’t. Today it is the Ottawa Charge, a dream come true.

From Gracie Mae — Senator Colin Deacon’s 3-year-old granddaughter — to the countless PWHL fans everywhere, the Ottawa Charge have become heroes in the eyes and hearts of many.

Not only do we have Senator Greenwood’s — and many other — grandkids and the wonderful community of Ottawa fans cheering from the sidelines, but we also have folks like Katelin from Senator Simons’s office, who says the Charge games are more thrilling than any Sens game she’s seen. She’s so fired up about the team that she’s made a vow: From now on, she’s only dating guys who are Charge fans.

It’s not just Katelin. Many are raving about how the Charge have brought hope, excitement and pride to Ottawa and Canada, from young hockey players — especially girls — to their proud parents and grandparents and generations who dreamed of this league for decades.

The Charge of the PWHL are more than just a team: they’re a movement.

At the close of season two, with phenomenal, record-breaking attendance at every home game, the Charge are not only playing on the ice; they’re in the community. From visiting starry-eyed young players, to cheering up sick kids, to attending flag raisings and spending time with seniors like us, the Charge are part of the fabric of this city.

None of this would be possible without their inspiring coach, Carla, whose blend of fierce tenacity and unwavering grace has taught all of us that you play best when you play hard together. That’s how Ottawa defied the odds to become the first Canadian team to make it to the Walter Cup finals.

The road to the finals wasn’t easy. In an unforgettable semifinal, the Charge came from behind and overtook the Montreal Victoire — sorry, my friends! But the real edge-of-seat drama came when they faced the reigning champs, the Minnesota Frost.

Each game was a heart-pounding thriller, ending with a nail-biting 2-1 score. In the third game, they went into a gruelling three overtime periods. Our Senator McBean put it perfectly: Ottawa gave us more than just hockey. With 10 overtime periods and countless moments of brilliance, these women gave us a roller coaster ride of energy, passion and breathtaking skill.

Then, in an unforgettable moment of PWHL unity, when rookie goaltender Gwyneth “Fortress” Philips was awarded the Ilana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player Award, both the Charge and Frost teams stayed on the ice and the entire stadium cheered, an incredible show of respect and admiration for this remarkable group of athletes. When Gwyneth accepted the award, humbly attributing her success to her teammates, who wasn’t moved to tears? Talk about integrity and teamwork.

As we look ahead, we can’t wait for next season, when we’ll welcome Vancouver and Seattle into the PWHL fold. One thing’s for sure: We’ll keep cheering and believing.

Go, Charge, go!