Christina Cartunkova’s Debut with the New York Sirens

On Tuesday morning, Christina Cartunkova made her way into the Prudential Center for her inaugural press conference as a member of the New York Sirens. There was a bit of a hiccup as she navigated security—typical for someone new to the scene—but she brushed it off. After all, she was just a little late, and what mattered was the start of a dream she’d only begun to envision.

For many female hockey players, a career in the PWHL was something they’d never considered during their college years. For Cartunkova, who played for Colgate, opportunities began to present themselves over the last few years, but initially, the path to the PWHL wasn’t obvious.

“Honestly, I thought I was going to end up playing in Europe. I didn’t really picture myself playing in the PWHL. It was more about finding a job in Europe and just moving on with life,” she shared. Yet, with all the buzz surrounding the PWHL this year, she began to realize that this was indeed an opportunity she wanted to seize.

Back when she was a little girl, she had aspirations of playing in the NWHL. Now, her education goals are somewhat on hold as she pursues this new chapter.

As the Sirens look to rebound from last season where they finished at the bottom of the league, Cartunkova joins the team with hopes of turning things around. The 23-year-old has an impressive background, having scored a record 111 goals during her time at Colgate, ranking second in program history for assists and points.

Cartunkova sees her experience with penalty kills as an asset and is motivated to find her place in a more aggressive role on the ice. “Last year, I played defense during penalty kills at Colgate. I didn’t think I could do it before that, and I was never really involved in penalty shoots,” she explained. “I guess I’ve surprised myself stepping into this scoring role. I don’t see many people putting in the effort to block shots or get bruises.”

General Manager Pascal Doust emphasized that Cartunkova’s physical play is something fans can look forward to. He praised her willingness to block shots and her determination to demonstrate the sacrifices needed for success. “She’s not afraid to take a hit, but she’s also got a powerful shot of her own,” he noted.

In an offseason of rebuilding, the Sirens plan to focus on young talent like Sarah Phillier, who made a strong impression last season, allowing veteran players to move to a new franchise in Seattle. Cartunkova welcomes this fresh start, feeling optimistic about her connection with Coach Greg Fargo.

“I’ve always felt confident in my abilities. Fargo is a well-rounded coach, and I’m excited to play under him. I believe he can help me unlock my full potential,” she expressed.

Cartunkova has already begun to make herself at home in New York through practices and game appearances, and she’s eager to kick off her professional journey in the city.