The New York Sirens are embarking on a new chapter in their third PWHL season as the sole team in the league that has not yet experienced a playoff appearance. Their fresh start seems promising as they claimed a 4-0 victory over the Ottawa Charge in their season opener.
Following the departure of four of their top five scorers and the longtime starting goaltender Corinne Schroder, who moved on to join the Seattle Torrent, the Sirens (1-0-0-0) have smoothly transitioned to having Kayle Osborne as their primary goalie. Osborne, who secured a shutout against the Ottawa Charge (0-0-0-1), expressed confidence in the team’s performance, stating, “We’re a super young group and proved we belong in this league tonight.”
In a dynamic offensive display, the Sirens scored four goals in the final 12:11 of the game, with forward Taylor Girard netting a hat trick and Maja Nylen Persson sealing the win with an empty-net goal.
The first overall draft pick, forward Kristýna Kaltounková, showcased her physicality early on but received a boarding penalty, setting off a sequence of physical exchanges in the game. Ottawa appeared to capitalize on a power play opportunity, only to have it nullified due to having too many players on the ice.
The game saw heightened tensions as New York’s captain Micah Zandee-Hart was ejected for a cross-check, leading to a spirited exchange on the ice. Gwyneth Philips, Ottawa’s goalie and last season’s playoff MVP, put up a formidable defense against the Sirens until they broke through in the third period.
Osborne, maintaining an unbeaten record in Ottawa, credited her success to the support from friends and family in the area, making her appearances in the city special. The Charge, known for their scoring struggles, faced another setback with a scoreless season opener, adding to their historical challenges in finding the back of the net.
Looking ahead, the Sirens will continue their road trip with a match against the Montreal Victoire before returning home to host the Vancouver Goldeneyes. Meanwhile, the Charge will aim to bounce back in their upcoming games against the Goldeneyes and the reigning Walter Cup champions, the Minnesota Frost.