Women’s sports are growing in popularity by the minute. In January 2024, the Professional Women’s Hockey League started their inaugural season. The first ever game was played by the New York Sirens and Toronto Sceptres. At the time, however, they were just PWHL NY and PWHL Toronto. At the conclusion of this game, the Sirens (NY) became the team to complete a lot of PWHL firsts. The first PWHL win, the first PWHL goal (Ella Shelton), and the first PWHL shutout (Corinne Schroeder). Since the moment that team stepped on the ice, I knew I was a life-long fan.
On March 22, 2025, over a year later, I finally got to attend my first Sirens game. The New York Sirens were playing the Ottawa Charge. The commute to Prudential Center, the home of the Sirens this season, was surprisingly stress-free. There was little traffic on the ride to the game. Once the doors opened, we made our way to our seats. The Prudential Center opens up the ice-level sections for Sirens games. We sat in section 7, by the Charge’s defensive zone for two of the three periods.
As the team prepared to enter the ice for warmups, “Welcome to New York”, by Taylor Swift, blasted through the stadium speakers. This game was the Sirens pride game, so all players entered the arena in PWHL pride shirts and many used pride tape on their sticks, during warmups.
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Right before the game started, the starting lineup was announced for both teams. The Sirens started forwards Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter, and Paetyn Levis. On defense, the Sirens started their pairing of Micah Zandee-Hart and Allyson Simpson, with starting goaltender Corinne Schroeder.
The first period was electric with multiple good shots from the players and saves from the goalies. After one Corinne Schroeder save, the stadium started chanting “Schroeder, Schroeder, Schroeder”. Ella Shelton and Sarah Fillier came close to scoring, but ultimately, the only team to score in the first was the Charge from captain Brianne Jenner.
The goal scoring picked up in the second period. Ella Shelton ripped a puck past Gwyneth Philips to tie the game at one. The Charge started to dominate offensively in the second half of the period. Tereza Vanišová scored two late goals to give Ottawa the 3-1 lead, heading into the second intermission.
photo credit: Gianna DeMauro
The third period opened with some PWHL history. The “lacrosse goal” otherwise known as “the Michigan goal” hadn’t ever been done in the PWHL. Abby Roque, knowing that the Sirens needed a goal to get back into the game, grabbed the puck, and scored the first ever Michigan goal in PWHL history. Add this to the list of firsts that the Sirens have completed. Prudential Center erupted, in awe of the historic goal. Unfortunately, just a minute later, Tereza Vanišová would put the Charge back up by two, completing a hat trick. Roughly halfway through the third period, Emily Clark scored the games final goal, to give Ottawa the 5-2 lead.
Even though the Sirens lost, I had an incredible time. From warmups to the final buzzer, the Sirens staff made the game so much fun. The atmosphere was incredible, with many young girls watching the game in aspiration. Since it was the Sirens pride game, they invited multiple LGBTQIA+ organizations, in the tri-state area, to the game. During intermissions they interviewed two organizations, giving the fans an opportunity to hear them answer some questions. The fans were all enjoying the pride celebration, with many wearing the same pride shirts that the players wore into the arena. During commercial breaks and stoppages of play, there was trendy and fun music being played throughout the arena. I have been to many NHL games, and still love the NHL, but this was easily the best time I’ve had at a hockey game. I would recommend every sports fan in the tri-state area attend a Sirens game!
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