New York Sirens general manager Pascal Daoust is excited about the team's potential this season.
Then again, who doesn't have a GM, coach, player, or fan at this point in the year before game results start to matter?
But Daust's excitement isn't just rooted in blind optimism.
After a rocky past few months for the New York Women's Professional Hockey League team, they are poised for even more success in their second season starting this weekend.
Not only do the Sirens have a team name, and perhaps more importantly, an established identity for fans to rally around, but they also have new star players, a new coach, and a new home arena. I'm proud.
“We are writing a completely new [Sirens chapter] in a new environment,” Daust said this week. “It's our responsibility to make that page as great as we want it to be.”
If there was one consolation for NYU after a failed debut in its first PWHL season, it was the right to be drafted No. 1.
The Sirens selected former Princeton star Sarah Filia, who won a gold medal for Canada in the 2022 Olympics.
The Sirens also hired former college coach Greg Fargo, replacing Howie Draper. He has a talent for developing players, as demonstrated during his 12 years at Colgate, where he launched the Raiders program to national prominence.
The Sirens finally have a place to call home at the Prudential Center and continue to practice at a training facility just 13 miles away.
Due to a number of offseason changes, team captain Micah Zandihart said earlier this month the team entered training camp with a “completely new perspective for the season ahead.”
“I’m really looking forward to next year,” she said. “There's energy in our group. Of course we're motivated to do better than last year and I think every team in the league is motivated to win a championship. But overall , we are now focusing on the day-to-day to prepare for December 1st.”
The Sirens got off to a strong start in the 2023-24 season, their first year in the league, winning four straight, before finishing last in the PWHL standings with a record of 5-4-3-12.
Forward Alex Carpenter and defender Ella Shelton were two of the more reliable skaters.
Carpenter scored a team-high eight goals and tied for second in the league with 23 points.
Shelton, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, had 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists).
Goaltender Corinne Schroder defended as well as she could in the crease, but the porous defense didn't help much.
Schroder posted a .930 save percentage while allowing a league-high 34 shots per game.
It probably didn't help that New York bounced between three venues for home games, either.
They played in Bridgeport, Conn., UBS Arena at Belmont Park, home of the NHL's Islanders, and the Prudential Center.
The different home venues may also be part of the reason why the Sirens averaged 2,496 fans in their 12 games.
With the team based at a training facility in Connecticut, players sometimes had to drive more than two hours to get to games.
Zandi Hart said the constant movement between arenas in different states has diminished the home ice advantage.
Not this time.
Essex County Cody Arena, the New Jersey Devils' former practice facility, will be the Sirens' home this season, with all home games held at the Prudential Center.
“that [takes] “The amount of energy transfer that our players had to go through last season, they won't have to do that this year,” Daoust said. “So this is a huge step forward. We're giving them the perfect environment to perform. And it's our responsibility and theirs to make sure we reach our full potential.” is.”
Zandy Hart added. “We see that with our team, but we're all excited to have a more settled presence, establish our own routines and have a place to call home.”
Over the past few weeks, Daoust has become increasingly familiar with the depth and diversity of his team, but he knows there is still a lot of work to be done.
“Just because all the ingredients are on the table doesn't mean the recipe will produce the best results,” Daust says. “You have to cook, you have to taste, you have to make sure you're getting the best food. But that doesn't mean [if] Mix all the ingredients together and you will get the best meal. It is their responsibility to accept the role, accept the mission, roll, push, walk, pull in the same direction, and we will see which group can do it. ”
The Sirens are scheduled to open the season Sunday against the defending champion Minnesota Frost.
New York's home opener will be on December 18th against the Toronto Scepters.
Fans will be able to watch the game from home after the Sirens signed a deal with MSG Networks to broadcast the game.
“We're really excited,” Zandy Hart said. “Especially in our league, every year is a new year… [We’re looking forward to] What can you do to be your best this year? ”
