Danielle Serdachny Bio
Danielle Serdachny is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and a member of the Canada women’s national ice hockey team. Born on May 12, 2001, in Edmonton, Alberta, she plays a right-shot forward position and stands 5 feet 9 inches tall. Drafted second overall by PWHL Ottawa in the 2024 PWHL draft, Serdachny previously played five seasons of collegiate ice hockey at Colgate University, where she established herself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. She has also represented Canada at three IIHF World Women’s Championships, capturing one gold medal and two silver medals.
Over the course of her career, Serdachny has earned multiple conference player of the year honors and All-American selections at the collegiate level. She finished her Colgate career as the program’s all-time leading scorer, a record that reflects her consistent offensive production across five seasons. At the professional level, she transitioned from PWHL Ottawa to the expansion Seattle Torrent, where she continues to develop as a top-six forward in the league.
Early Life and Background
Danielle Serdachny was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Debra and Steven Serdachny. She was raised in a hockey-centric household, with both the sport and the National Hockey League playing a significant role in her childhood. Her father, Steve, worked as a skating and skills coach for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers for twelve seasons, giving Danielle daily exposure to high-level training environments from a young age. This environment helped shape her passion for the game and her understanding of what it takes to compete at elite levels.
Serdachny began skating at the age of two and started playing organized hockey at age four. She has three siblings, all of whom are hockey players: older sister Brooke, younger sister Jordan, and brother Noah, who later played college hockey at Colorado College. Reflecting on her upbringing, Serdachny has credited her parents for their support, noting that her father’s career in the hockey industry made the sport a natural part of family life. The combination of family encouragement and early access to quality coaching laid a strong foundation for her development as a player.
During her minor hockey career in the Edmonton area, Serdachny played for several programs, including the Southside Athletic Club, Maple Leaf Athletic Club, and the Edmonton Pandas. She later attended the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, British Columbia, where she played two seasons in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). Across her time with the program, she tallied 40 goals and 64 assists in 49 games, won consecutive CSSHL Female Prep Division Championships, and was named league MVP. These accomplishments helped establish her as one of the top young prospects in Canadian women’s hockey.
Path to Hockey
Serdachny’s path to elite-level hockey moved through structured minor hockey, elite academy competition, and ultimately the NCAA ranks. Her performance with Pursuit of Excellence in the CSSHL earned her recognition as a top collegiate recruit, and she committed to Colgate University, where she would spend the next five seasons. The Colgate women’s hockey program, a member of ECAC Hockey, offered her a competitive environment to refine her game against some of the best players in U.S. college hockey.
At the international level, Serdachny first gained significant attention while representing Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship in Obihiro, Japan. She recorded three goals and one assist in five games, including an overtime winner against Russia in the semifinals. Canada went on to defeat the United States 3–2 in overtime in the gold medal game, marking the country’s first U18 gold medal since 2014. This early international success signaled her readiness to compete against the highest level of competition her age group had to offer.
Following her decorated collegiate career at Colgate, Serdachny entered the professional ranks as one of the most anticipated prospects in the inaugural 2024 PWHL draft. Her combination of scoring ability, playmaking vision, and leadership experience made her an obvious top selection. Being drafted second overall by PWHL Ottawa represented the culmination of a long development path that began on Edmonton’s rinks and continued through the CSSHL, the NCAA, and Canada’s national team program.
Danielle Serdachny Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Serdachny began her collegiate hockey career with the Colgate Raiders during the 2019–20 season, making her debut on September 21, 2019, against the Holy Cross Crusaders. She recorded two goals in that game, becoming the first Colgate player in a decade to score multiple goals in her first collegiate contest. She was named the ECAC Rookie of the Week for the week ending February 10, 2020, and finished the season with 10 goals and 22 assists in 38 games. Her 22 assists tied a program record for assists in a season by a freshman, an impressive feat that foreshadowed the record-breaking career that followed.
Following her outstanding first season, Serdachny was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team and was recognized as Colgate’s Rookie of the Year. These early accolades set the tone for a collegiate career defined by individual excellence and team success. Her ability to produce offensively while adjusting to the speed and physicality of Division I hockey made her a foundational piece of the Raiders’ lineup from her very first game.
Collegiate Breakthrough (2020–2024)
During the 2020–21 season, Serdachny elevated her game, recording nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 23 games and leading all ECAC players in league scoring. She was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Week twice and earned first-team All-ECAC, ECAC Player of the Year, and ECAC Best Forward honors. She became the first Player of the Year recipient in Colgate program history and was also named a First-Team All-USCHO and CCM/AHCA First-Team All-American, becoming the first All-American for Colgate in Division I history. These awards established her as one of the top players in the country.
Named team captain for the 2021–22 season, Serdachny recorded 16 goals and 38 assists in 39 games, breaking the program’s single-season assists record. She led the ECAC in assists and was tied for the league lead in points. Colgate won the ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship that season, defeating Yale 2–1 in overtime in the final, with Serdachny playing a central role in the team’s success. Her leadership and consistent production helped turn the Raiders into a perennial conference contender.
Her senior year in 2022–23 was arguably her most dominant collegiate season. She led the league with 25 goals and 45 assists for 70 points in 39 games, leading the NCAA in points per game at 1.79. Her 45 assists broke her own single-season program record, and her 70 points shattered the previous program record of 55. She was named ECAC Player of the Year and ECAC Forward of the Year for the second time, earned CCM/AHCA First-Team All-American honors, and was a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Colgate won its third consecutive ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship with an 8–2 victory over Clarkson, finishing the season with a 32-5-2 record. In her fifth and final season, she became the first player in program history to record 200 career points, finishing with 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points. Colgate won its fourth consecutive ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship, becoming only the second team in league history to claim four consecutive league titles.
Professional Career (2024–Present)
On June 10, 2024, Serdachny was drafted second overall by PWHL Ottawa in the 2024 PWHL draft, and on August 20, 2024, she signed a three-year contract with the team through the 2026–27 season. General Manager Mike Hirshfeld praised her complete 200-foot hockey game and the skill and goal-scoring she would bring to the lineup. She made her professional debut on November 30, 2024, against the Montreal Victoire at Place Bell, scoring her first professional goal in that game with her parents in attendance. She finished her rookie season with two goals and six assists in 30 regular season games, tying for the team lead in rookie scoring.
Ottawa qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history that season, and Serdachny recorded her first career playoff point in the semifinals against Montreal. She appeared in all eight playoff games with two assists as Ottawa advanced to the Walter Cup Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Minnesota Frost in four games. During the league’s expansion to eight teams ahead of the 2025–26 season, Serdachny was left unprotected by Ottawa and signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Torrent on June 5, 2025, becoming the second player to sign with the expansion franchise.
Seattle’s home debut came on November 28, 2025, against the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost in front of a record-setting crowd of 16,014 fans at Climate Pledge Arena, the largest crowd for a women’s hockey game in a U.S. arena. On December 28, 2025, she scored her first goal for the Torrent in a 4–3 loss to the New York Sirens. On March 11, 2026, she scored the game-winning goal in the third period against the first-place Boston Fleet, securing Seattle’s first-ever victory over Boston.
Driving Style and Strengths
Serdachny is recognized for her strong two-way play, her ability to possess the puck under pressure, and her willingness to play through contact in all three zones. Her game combines skilled playmaking with responsible defensive play, and her strength on faceoffs has been a valuable asset at the professional level. Seattle General Manager Meghan Turner has praised her ability to make plays under pressure, noting that she is only beginning to tap into her full potential as a professional.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Serdachny’s career came on April 14, 2024, when she scored the game-winning overtime goal in the gold medal game of the IIHF Women’s World Championship against the United States. The goal came with two seconds remaining on a power play in overtime, lifting Canada to a 6–5 victory and its tournament-record 13th gold medal. She is also Colgate’s all-time leading scorer with 213 points and the first player in program history to record 200 career points.
Danielle Serdachny Career Wins
Across her international and collegiate career, Serdachny has compiled an impressive list of victories and honors. She helped Canada win gold at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, while also earning two World Championship silver medals in 2023 and 2025. At Colgate, she helped the Raiders win four consecutive ECAC Hockey Tournament Championships between 2021 and 2024.
International Highlights
Serdachny’s international resume includes appearances at three senior IIHF World Women’s Championships, where she won one gold and two silver medals. She was also a key contributor to Canada’s 2019 U18 World Championship gold medal, scoring the overtime semifinal winner against Russia. Her overtime game-winner in the 2024 senior gold medal final stands as the defining moment of her international career to date.
Other Wins and Performances
During her time with Pursuit of Excellence in the CSSHL, Serdachny won two consecutive Female Prep Division Championships and was named league MVP. She also won the inaugural Wayne Dean Sportsmanship Award at Colgate in 2022–23, recognizing her leadership on and off the ice. These accomplishments reflect her consistent ability to perform at a high level across multiple competitive environments.
Danielle Serdachny Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Serdachny was born to Debra and Steven Serdachny in Edmonton, Alberta, and raised in a household deeply connected to the hockey industry. Her father, Steve, served as a skating and skills coach for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers for twelve seasons, an experience that shaped the family’s daily life and gave Danielle early access to elite-level training resources. She has three siblings, Brooke, Jordan, and Noah, all of whom are hockey players, with brother Noah going on to play college hockey at Colorado College.
Personal Life
Beyond her playing career, Serdachny has been active in mentorship and community work. At Colgate, she co-founded Rising Raiders, a mentorship program for young female hockey players in the New York area. She has also been recognized as an ambassador for the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, continuing her family’s connection to the hockey community. She is also a member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team and was honored on the Raider Academic Honor Roll during her time at Colgate, balancing her athletic and academic commitments successfully.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season marks Danielle Serdachny’s first year with the Seattle Torrent, an expansion franchise entering the PWHL. After being left unprotected by the Ottawa Charge, she signed a two-year contract with Seattle and quickly became a key part of the team’s offensive group. The season opened with a marquee home debut at Climate Pledge Arena against the defending champion Minnesota Frost, drawing a record 16,014 fans. Despite the 3–0 loss, Serdachny logged over 19 minutes of ice time, signaling her role as a top-line contributor for the new franchise.
As the season progressed, Serdachny continued to develop chemistry with her new teammates and adapt to the Torrent’s system. She scored her first goal for Seattle on December 28, 2025, against the New York Sirens, and added a memorable game-winning goal on March 11, 2026, against the first-place Boston Fleet, ending the Fleet’s six-game winning streak. These moments highlighted her growing comfort in the Seattle lineup and her value as a clutch performer in tight games.
Looking ahead, the Torrent are building an identity around skilled, two-way forwards, and Serdachny is central to that plan. With two years remaining on her contract and her game still trending upward, the organization has expressed confidence that she has yet to reach her full potential. Her combination of scoring touch, faceoff strength, and professional experience should make her a cornerstone of the Seattle franchise as it establishes itself in the PWHL.