Casey O’Brien Drafted by the Siren at PWHL Draft

At the PWHL draft held on Tuesday in Ottawa, Ontario, Casey O’Brien sat with her family, pondering her potential destinations. Toronto, Montreal, or perhaps Ottawa were on her mind.

Then, out of nowhere, she wondered, “Could it be New York?”

As her suspicions were confirmed when the Siren picked her, O’Brien experienced a whirlwind of emotions—surprise mixed with pure excitement.

Reflecting on the moment, she remarked, “I think I’m in shock,” while looking out over the bustling Rockefeller Center. “We were just sitting there, calm. Not really nervous, but… trades were happening.”

The Siren had just taken Czech forward Christina Cartunkova and later traded Ella Shelton to Toronto for additional draft picks. This move paved the way for O’Brien’s selection.

The 5-foot player from Wisconsin mentioned having a constructive conversation with the Siren’s coach before the draft. Yet, she hadn’t imagined New York would make an effort to acquire her.

Growing up in SoHo, dreams of playing for New York were always there. O’Brien learned to skate at Chelsea Piers, where her older brothers, Jack and Max, played hockey and her father, James, coached their House League team.

“I always wanted to do what they were doing, so they had me jump on the ice with them. That’s when I really fell in love with the game,” she recounted.

In 2017, she transferred to the Minnesota prep powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s, where over three seasons, she accumulated an impressive 211 points in 122 games.

O’Brien continued to shine in Wisconsin, winning three national championships and receiving the Patikasmeier Award for best college player after an outstanding senior season.

Now, after spending eight years on strong teams, she aims to help the Siren build a culture of success, especially after two challenging seasons at the bottom of the standings.

“We don’t dwell on the past,” she emphasized. “We’re starting fresh, and we’re ready to tackle the challenges together.”

The 23-year-old will be joining several familiar faces, including Sarah Filier and Anne Cherkovsky, who she refers to as her “best friend in the world.”

“I think many of us have skated together at some point. We know each other, so I believe the chemistry will develop quickly,” O’Brien added enthusiastically.