Sydney Bard Bio
Sydney Marie Bard, born January 15, 2001, is an American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played for the Boston Fleet of the PWHL. Bard began her collegiate hockey career with the Colgate Raiders, where she achieved significant success and became an all-time leader in points for defenders.
Standing 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) tall and shooting right, Bard has built her reputation on vision, skating, and offensive production from the blue line. After a decorated tenure at Colgate University, she entered the PWHL in 2024 and quickly became a reliable two-way presence for the Boston Fleet before being selected by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Sydney Marie Bard was born on January 15, 2001, in New Hartford, New York, to David Bard and Dawn Bard. She grew up alongside two brothers, Derek and Alec, both of whom pursued golf. The family setting in central New York gave Bard an early foundation in athletics, with multiple sports available to her throughout childhood.
Bard attended New Hartford High School in New Hartford, New York, where she competed in field hockey, golf, and lacrosse. At the age of 15, she moved to Rochester, New York, to attend Selects Academy and focus on hockey. She won two state championships and was twice named Most Valuable Player while playing as a forward during her high school years.
During her senior year of high school, Bard also played for the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, gaining valuable out-of-state experience against strong competition. These early steps away from home helped shape her competitive approach and prepared her for the next stage of her development.
Path to Hockey
Bard’s path to professional hockey began with her transition to Selects Academy and the Toronto Jr. Aeros, where she faced tougher opposition than she had seen in New York. Playing against older and more experienced forwards sharpened her skills and pushed her toward a defensive identity at the collegiate level.
She also represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, recording one assist in five games and winning a silver medal. The international exposure gave Bard a clearer view of the pace and structure required to compete at the highest levels of women’s hockey.
Her strong youth résumé led to a commitment at Colgate University, where she would spend five seasons developing into one of the top defencemen in the ECAC. Bard’s blend of poise, passing, and hockey sense made her a natural fit for the Raiders’ system and a focal point of their defensive corps.
Sydney Bard Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Bard’s competitive career began in 2017, when she joined Selects Academy at age 15 and quickly established herself as a top young player in the program. Her time at Selects and with the Toronto Jr. Aeros allowed her to test herself against elite amateur talent while still completing high school.
During this period she captured two state championships and earned two Most Valuable Player awards while playing as a forward. Those early accolades signaled her scoring touch and competitive drive, traits she would later translate to the defenceman position at Colgate.
Colgate Raiders Era (2019–2024)
Bard began her collegiate hockey career with the Colgate Raiders during the 2019–20 season. In her freshman year, she recorded three goals and 13 assists in 38 games and led all ECAC rookie defencemen with 16 points, earning a spot on the ECAC All-Rookie Team.
During the 2020–21 sophomore season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, she posted one goal and seven assists in 23 games. In her junior year of 2021–22, Bard elevated her production with four goals and 23 assists in 39 games, leading all ECAC defencemen in points and assists and being named to the All-ECAC third team.
As a senior in 2022–23, she recorded three goals and 30 assists in 40 games and was named to the All-ECAC first team. Returning for a graduate season in 2023–24, she added two goals and 26 assists in 40 games and recorded her 100th career point on January 20, 2024. Bard finished her collegiate career as Colgate’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman with 112.
Boston Fleet Era (2024–2025)
On June 10, 2024, Bard was selected in the fourth round, 22nd overall, by PWHL Boston in the 2024 PWHL Draft. On July 8, 2024, she signed a two-year contract with the Boston Fleet, formally launching her professional career in the PWHL.
In her rookie season, Bard scored her first PWHL goal on December 8, 2024, finishing the year with one goal and two assists. Her poise on the blue line and penalty-killing reliability helped stabilize a young Boston defensive group during a developmental campaign for the franchise.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Era (2025–2026)
On June 9, 2025, Bard was selected 13th overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft. She joined the expansion club as part of its foundational roster, bringing veteran leadership to a new franchise on the West Coast.
During the 2025–26 season she recorded two assists in 30 games, contributing in a defensive role while helping the Goldeneyes establish their identity. Her steady presence and pro experience proved valuable for a first-year team adjusting to the pace of the PWHL schedule.
PWHL Detroit Era (2026–Present)
On June 10, 2026, Bard signed a two-year contract with PWHL Detroit ahead of the league’s expansion to 12 teams for the 2026–27 season. The move reunited her with the original PWHL franchise and added a proven two-way defenceman to Detroit’s defensive core.
The contract is set to run through 2026, marking a new chapter in her professional career as the league continues to grow. Her experience with multiple franchises makes her a stabilizing presence in Detroit’s locker room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bard is best known for her calm puck movement, strong hockey sense, and effectiveness on the penalty kill. Her 112 career points at Colgate highlighted an offensive skill set uncommon for defencemen, while her size and compete level allow her to win key defensive battles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature milestones include her 100th career collegiate point on January 20, 2024, and becoming Colgate’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman with 112. She also scored her first PWHL goal on December 8, 2024, while with the Boston Fleet.
Sydney Bard Career Wins
Throughout her career, Sydney Marie Bard has collected championship hardware at multiple levels, including two New York state high school titles, a silver medal with the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, and All-ECAC recognition across multiple seasons at Colgate. Her draft selections by PWHL Boston in 2024 and by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in 2025 further reflect her standing among the top defencemen of her class.
Colgate Raiders Highlights
During her five-year Colgate tenure, Bard became the program’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman with 112. Her junior-season totals of four goals and 23 assists set the tone, and her senior-year output of three goals and 30 assists cemented her as one of the ECAC’s premier blue-liners.
She earned All-ECAC third team honors in 2021–22 and All-ECAC first team recognition in 2022–23, along with ECAC All-Rookie honors in 2019–20. These awards highlighted her consistent production across five seasons of college hockey.
International Highlights
Bard represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, posting one assist in five games and winning a silver medal. The tournament remains one of the defining early achievements of her competitive career.
Sydney Bard Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Sydney Marie Bard was raised in New Hartford, New York, by her parents, David Bard and Dawn Bard. She has two brothers, Derek and Alec, both of whom are golfers, giving the family a strong multi-sport tradition. While her brothers pursued golf, Sydney focused her athletic path on hockey.
Personal Life
Bard is a member of the LGBTQ community and has been open about that part of her identity. She continues to live a public life centered on her hockey career, balancing professional commitments with her roots in central New York.
2025 Season Performance
Sydney Marie Bard spent the 2025–26 PWHL season with the Vancouver Goldeneyes after being selected 13th overall in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft. She appeared in 30 games and recorded two assists, focusing primarily on defensive responsibilities and special-teams play for the first-year franchise.
Her veteran presence helped stabilize the Goldeneyes’ defensive group during a transitional season as the club built its identity. Bard’s calm distribution from the blue line and penalty-killing reliability provided a steady anchor for younger teammates adjusting to the professional level.
Following the season, she signed a two-year contract with PWHL Detroit on June 10, 2026, ahead of the league’s expansion to 12 teams. With Detroit poised for the 2026–27 campaign, Bard enters the new season as a trusted two-way defenceman ready to contribute on a retooled roster.