New York Sirens Overview
The New York Sirens are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York metropolitan area that competes in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Founded in 2023, the Sirens are one of the six charter franchises of the league and play their home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The team is owned by the Mark Walter Group and wears turquoise, navy blue, white, and orange. Pascal Daoust serves as the general manager, while Greg Fargo is the team’s head coach, and Micah Zandee-Hart serves as captain. The Sirens’ identity draws from New York City’s vibrant sights and sounds, with the nickname officially unveiled in 2024.
As a founding member of the PWHL, the New York Sirens represent the league’s commitment to growing professional women’s hockey in one of the largest sports markets in North America. The team competes in a league built to provide elite female players with a stable, high-level professional platform, and it carries the pride of the New York region onto the ice each season.
Founding and Organizational Origins
On August 29, 2023, the Professional Women’s Hockey League revealed that one of its first six charter franchises would be located in the New York metropolitan area. The announcement marked a major step in establishing a unified professional women’s hockey league in North America, giving the region a flagship team from day one. The league moved quickly to assemble the leadership that would guide the new club.
On September 1, 2023, the league announced that Pascal Daoust, the former general manager of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Val-d’Or Foreurs, would serve as the team’s inaugural general manager. Two weeks later, on September 15, Howie Draper was named the franchise’s first head coach, taking a leave of absence from his role leading the University of Alberta women’s hockey program. The team’s early operations focused on building a front office, coaching staff, and scouting presence to prepare for the league’s first-ever entry draft.
Each PWHL team was permitted to make three signings during the league’s free agency window ahead of the 2023 PWHL Draft. On September 8, the team announced the signings of its first three players: United States national team members Alex Carpenter and Abby Roque, and Canadian national team member Micah Zandee-Hart. The franchise’s first official roster selections were made at the league’s inaugural draft, which was held on September 18, 2023.
Growth Into PWHL Competition
The Sirens’ transition into PWHL competition was carefully structured around a clear set of early goals: sign marquee international talent, draft a strong foundation of young players, and establish an identity that could resonate with fans across the New York market. The team’s first three signings reflected a strategy built around national team experience, while the draft allowed the franchise to add elite young talent and build for the future.
At the 2023 PWHL Draft, the team’s first selection came at fourth overall, with the club choosing defender Ella Shelton from the University of Wisconsin. The first roster quickly took shape, and on December 21, 2023, the team announced that Micah Zandee-Hart would serve as its first captain, with Alex Carpenter and Ella Shelton named as alternate captains. The franchise also secured a notable broadcasting partnership, with games airing on MSG Networks, giving the team strong regional visibility from the start.
New York Sirens Competitive Journey
The New York Sirens’ competitive journey began in historic fashion in the PWHL’s inaugural season, with the franchise playing in the league’s very first game. Since then, the team has continued to develop its roster, build its on-ice identity, and establish itself as a competitive presence within a still-young league. The Sirens’ path has included early milestones, lineup changes, and steady organizational growth.
Early Seasons and Development (2023–2024)
In November 2023, the team revealed its original color scheme of turquoise, navy blue, and white. Later that month, the franchise announced that it would play its home games at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with four additional games scheduled at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The temporary dual-arena arrangement allowed the team to reach fans across the broader New York region during its first season while a long-term home plan continued to develop.
On New Year’s Day 2024, the New York Sirens played in the PWHL’s first-ever game, defeating PWHL Toronto by a score of 4–0. Ella Shelton scored the first goal in league history, and goaltender Corinne Schroeder recorded the league’s first shutout, instantly writing the franchise into league record books. The team hosted its first home game on January 5, 2024, at Total Mortgage Arena, losing a rematch to Toronto by a 3–2 score. Despite the historic opening, the Sirens were the first team eliminated from playoff contention on April 24, 2024.
Breakthrough in PWHL (2024–Present)
The Sirens secured the first overall pick at the 2024 PWHL Draft with a victory over PWHL Ottawa on April 30, 2024. At the draft, the franchise used the first overall selection to take Princeton standout Sarah Fillier, adding a dynamic young forward to a growing core. At the end of the season, the team parted ways with first-year head coach Howie Draper, and in June 2024, the franchise hired former Colgate Raiders coach Greg Fargo as its new head coach to lead the next phase of the program.
On September 13, 2024, the Sirens announced that the majority of their 2024–25 home games would be played at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, a building that had previously hosted two of the team’s games in April 2024. The club also moved its practice facility to the Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, giving the organization a more permanent operational base. In the same month, the PWHL unveiled franchise nicknames for all six charter teams, and the New York franchise officially became the Sirens, with the league stating that the nickname was a reference to New York City’s vibrant sights and sounds. The team added orange to its color scheme and introduced a new logo featuring stylized NY initials and the Sirens wordmark.
On April 4, 2026, the Sirens defeated the Seattle Torrent in an overtime shootout, 2–1, in a game played at Madison Square Garden. The match set the all-time attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game in the United States, drawing 18,006 spectators and marking one of the most significant single-game moments in franchise history.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
Under the ownership of the Mark Walter Group, the New York Sirens have moved into a more stable operational phase, anchored by a long-term home at the Prudential Center and a dedicated practice facility at the Richard J. Codey Arena. General manager Pascal Daoust and head coach Greg Fargo have continued to shape the roster, blending the franchise’s early core of Carpenter, Roque, Zandee-Hart, and Shelton with top draft picks such as Sarah Fillier. The team also expanded its media footprint through its partnership with MSG Networks, increasing the visibility of women’s hockey across the New York market.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Sirens have built their identity around a mix of experienced national team players and high-end young talent, creating a roster that can play with pace, skill, and structure. The franchise’s emphasis on drafting and developing elite college players, paired with targeted free-agent signings, has given the team a balanced core capable of competing across all situations on the ice.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The franchise’s key milestones include playing in the PWHL’s first-ever game on January 1, 2024, scoring the league’s first goal through Ella Shelton, and recording the league’s first shutout with goaltender Corinne Schroeder. The team has also earned the first overall pick at the 2024 PWHL Draft, unveiled its permanent Sirens identity in 2024, and set the all-time U.S. attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game with 18,006 fans at Madison Square Garden on April 4, 2026.
New York Sirens Achievements and Results
As a young franchise in a still-young league, the New York Sirens have built their early resume around historic firsts, high draft picks, and landmark attendance moments rather than championship trophies. The team’s verified accomplishments include key individual and team records that have helped shape the early identity of the PWHL itself.
PWHL Achievements
The Sirens hold a pair of notable league firsts: they played in the PWHL’s inaugural game on New Year’s Day 2024, and that contest produced the first goal in league history, scored by Ella Shelton, along with the first shutout, recorded by Corinne Schroeder. The franchise has yet to capture a Walter Cup championship or a regular season title, with both totals currently at zero.
Conference Achievements
The PWHL did not organize its inaugural season around traditional conference play, and the New York Sirens have not recorded a conference championship in team history. Conference-level competitive structures within the league have continued to evolve alongside the league’s broader growth.
Divisional Achievements
The Professional Women’s Hockey League has not yet established a divisional alignment that includes the New York Sirens, and the franchise has not recorded a divisional title. The team’s competitive play has been measured primarily through season standings and head-to-head results during its early years.
Series Achievements
The Sirens’ most prominent series result came in a special neutral-site matchup on April 4, 2026, when they defeated the Seattle Torrent 2–1 in an overtime shootout at Madison Square Garden. That contest set the all-time United States attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game at 18,006, establishing a new benchmark for the series between the two clubs and for the league as a whole.
