'Proved we belong': Young Sirens start off PWHL season with big win over Charge

The New York Sirens are starting fresh in their third PWHL season as the only remaining team in the league that has never played a playoff game. So far it's working, as the Sirens topped the Ottawa Charge 4-0 to open their season on Saturday.

In addition to losing four of their top five scorers from 2024-25 in the off-season, longtime starting goaltender Corinne Schroder parted ways with the Sirens (1-0-0-0) to sign with the Seattle Torrent. Comfortably stepping into the No. 1 role this season is Kayle Osborne, who shut out the Ottawa Charge (0-0-0-1) for the second time in her PWHL career.

"We're a super young group and proved we belong in this league tonight," Osborne said.

At the other end of the ice on Saturday, New York's offence exploded for four goals all within the final 12:11 of action thanks to a hat trick from forward Taylor Girard and an empty-netter from Maja Nylen Persson.

Girard, Wheeler lead Sirens to win over Charge

Forward Kristýna Kaltounková, New York's first overall pick from this year's draft, looked to lay the body early in her debut, but that manifested in a boarding penalty which kicked off the game's physical mayhem.

On the ensuing advantage, Ottawa seemingly capitalized on the ensuing advantage when forward Fanuza Kadirova's shot ricocheted off Gabbie Hughes's shin pad and into the netting. But the Charge were caught with too many players on the ice on the play, killing the man advantage to the tune of the home crowd's voiced frustration.

With tensions rising, New York captain Micah Zandee-Hart was ejected for a five-minute major when she cross-checked Hughes in the mask while getting scrappy following the next sequence. Hughes wasn't bothered by the move, however.

"That's the league," Hughes