OTTAWA, OP (November 22, 2025) – Taylor Girard had a natural hat trick and Kayle Osborne posted a 28-save shutout to lead the New York Sirens to a 4-0 victory over the Ottawa Charge on Saturday night in front of 7,371 fans at TD Place in Ottawa. In a fast-paced, physical match, it was Girard who broke the scoreless tie 7:49 into the third period before scoring her second just under five minutes later to give the road team a late 2-0 lead. The forward completed the hat trick – the first of her PWHL career – to give the Sirens a commanding 3-0 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the third. Rookie Maddi Wheeler had assists in each of Girard’s three games, while linemate Elle Hartje contributed two helpers. Defender Maja Nylén Persson scored a short, empty score with four seconds left. In what was a battle between the secondary goaltenders for much of the game, it was Osborne who recorded her second career shutout, while Ottawa’s Gwyneth Phillips made a career-high 38 saves in the regular-season loss.
QUOTES
Goalkeeper from New York Kayle Osborne about playing in her hometown: “[Playing at TD Place] feels great. I think it just felt better to get our first win with this group. We are super young and we have proven that we belong in this competition. It makes it extra special to play here today. I have a lot of support here and family and friends; We only play in this building a few times a year, so it’s special for them to see me.”
Sirens ahead Taylor Girard when scoring a hat trick: “It is special to be part of this group and Kayle has obviously helped us in many areas. All the goals scored: credit goes to everyone else on the team who worked in every area of the ice. We scored because we prepared for each other every shift, shift after shift. We were hard on the puck and it was a great win.”
Ottawa forward Gabby Hughes on the Fanuza Kadirova goal waived due to a penalty on the play: “I was so excited for Fanuza. She was so excited. So it was nice to see that excitement for her. We saw her personality show a little bit more. It was frustrating to see it go, but we’ll work things out as a team and on the ice, and the goals will come.”
Charging head coach Carla MacLeod on adjustments needed to create offense: “It’s game one. There’s a lot of adjustment to be made. Overall, there were a lot of good things we saw. It’s just about fine-tuning the fine details within that structure. I thought our defensemen did a good job with their lead most of the night. We just have to make sure we keep learning.”
NOTES
New York has now opened all three PWHL seasons with a win on the road. Last season, they spoiled Minnesota’s home opener with a 4-3 overtime victory on December 1, 2025, and won the first game in PWHL history in Toronto with a 4-0 shutout on January 1, 2024.
Kayle Osborne recorded her second career shutout and her third career victory, all coming in Ottawa. The Westport, ON native earned her first shutout against the Charge with 31 saves on January 27, 2025 in a 3-0 win, then made 15 saves in a 6-3 win on March 25, 2025 at TD Place. She becomes the second goaltender to record a shutout in a season opener, following Corinne Schroeder who stopped all 29 shots in the first game of the competition.
Taylor Girard is the first player in PWHL history to score three goals in one period and records the league’s second natural hat trick after Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle on January 6, 2024. Her three goals came on a career-high of seven shots on goal and matches her offensive output from the entire 2024-25 season (1G, 2A) in 23 games.
Maddi Wieler tonight set a record for most points in a PWHL debut with her three assists. The fourth-round pick is only the second Sirens player to record three assists in a game after Ella Shelton on January 14, 2024.
Elle Hartje recorded her second career multi-assist appearance, the first coming in her fifth PWHL game last season on December 22, 2024.
Maja Nylen Persson scored the first short and empty goal of the season.
Gwyneth PhillipsThe previous career-high for regular-season saves came in her season debut on December 19 with 35 stops in a 5–2 loss at Minnesota.
Emily Clark led the Charge with five shots on goal after capturing the team lead with 87 shots in 30 games during the 2024-2025 season.
Ottawa is now winless in its opening games of three seasons. Last season, they dropped a 4-3 shootout decision in Montreal on November 30, 2024, and previously lost their first game 3-2 in overtime at home to Montreal on January 2, 2024.
Five New York draft picks made their PWHL debuts tonight, including Cyclistfirst overall choice Kristina Kaltounkovathird overall choice Casey O’Briensecond round pick Anne Cherkowskiand fifth-round pick Anna Bargman.
Two Sirens players made their team debuts tonight, including forward Kristin O’Neillwho led the team with 13 faceoff wins, and defenseman Jincy Roese who recorded 25:07 upon her return to Ottawa, where she served as alternate captain for two seasons.
Four draft selections from Ottawa made their PWHL debuts tonight, including first-round picks Rory Guildaythird round pick Sarah Wozniewiczfourth-round pick Peyton Hempand sixth-round pick Fanuza Kadirova.
Kadriova had a goal disallowed at 10:45 of the first period because Ottawa was assessed a minor penalty for too many players.
Brooke Hobson played in her first game as a member of the Charge, pitting the defenseman against her former New York teammates.
New York’s 42 shots on goal set a new team record and is the highest total so far this PWHL season.
THREE STARS
1. Taylor Girard (NY) 3G
2. Kayle Osborne (NY) 28/28 SV
3. Gwyneth Philips (OTT) 38/41 SV
UPCOMING SCHEDULES
New York: Tuesday, November 25 in Montreal at 7pm ET
Ottawa: Wednesday, November 26 vs Vancouver at 7pm ET
#sirens #Ottawa