With New York finishing the inaugural PWHL season in last place, the team did enough down the back end of the season to earn the #1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft.
With plenty of holes on the team, besides in net, general manager Pascal Daoust selected the consensus number one player on the board, Canadian center Sarah Fillier out of Princeton University.
Born in Georgetown, Ontario, Fillier made a name for herself at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, winning a gold medal with Canada and finishing the tournament with eight goals and 11 points. She’s also been a part of three other gold medal winning World Championship teams for Canada, being named 2023 tournament MVP after 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists) in seven games.
Along with her international success, Fillier has been one of the best plyers in the Colligate ranks. After graduating with a degree in psychiatry, Fillier completed her Princeton career with 194 points (93 goals, 101 assists) in 120 games.
“It’s a dream come true, especially to a city like New York. I went to school just down the road, so it kind of feels like I’m coming home a little bit, and I can’t wait to meet all the fans and get to New York,” said Fillier after being selected 1st overall Monday night.
General manager said Pascal Daoust was full of praise talking about his newest star. “Sarah is a leader with immense talent who has consistently showcased her abilities in the biggest events, both with and against the best in the world, while standing out,” said Daoust.
The arrival of Fillier will be a welcomed one for a New York team that struggled to find any constant offensive output from their forwards not named Alex Carpenter. New head coach Greg Fargo should be over the moon to be able to start his tenure with a one, two punch of Carpenter and Fillier leading the first line.
Here’s what Fillier had to say about New York’s roster and incoming coach Greg Fargo. “If you look at the talent New York has, I think they built a really solid foundation…Greg Fargo has been a tremendous coach. I’ve played against him for four years in the ECAC and he’s always a tough coach to play against, so it’s exciting that I’m on his team now.”
After the selection of Fillier first overall, New York had seven more picks to make. New York added an extra third round pick after trading the 7th and 37th overall picks to Boston for the 10th, 16th and 28th overall picks. Here’s a summary of the rest of the draft for New York.
- 1st overall: Sarah Fillier, 24, Center, Princeton University (NCAA)
- 10th overall: Maja Nylen Persson, 23, Defense, Brynäs IF (SDHL)
- 13th overall: Noora Tulus, 28, Center, Luleå HF (SDHL)
- 16th overall: Allyson Simpson, 23, Defense, Colgate University (NCAA)
- 19th overall: Gabby Rosenthal, 25, Center, Ohio St. (NCAA)
- 25th overall: Elle Hartje, 23, Center, Yale University (NCAA)
- 28th overall: Kayle Osborne, 22, Goalie, Colgate University (NCAA)
- 31st overall: Emmy Fecteau, 25, Center, Concordia University (USports)
With their next two picks after drafting Fillier, New York selected two European players, defensemen Maja Nylen Persson at 10th overall and center Noora Tulus three picks later.
Persson, a Swedish national team player the past six years, has won the SDHL’s (Swedish Women’s Hockey League) defensemen of the year award three straight seasons. Since turning 17 in November of 2017, Maja has represented Sweden in two Olympic games and four World Championships.
With their third pick, New York selected Tulus out of Luleå in the SDHL. Tulus last season led the league in scoring by nine points with 61 points, 39 of those being assists. Like Persson, Tulus has been a part of two Olympics but also eight World Championships with Finland.
With their first three draft picks, New York could start the season with a power play featuring the likes of Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter, Noora Tulus, Ella Shelton and Maja Nylen Persson. A deadly first unit.
Greg Fargo wouldn’t be denied some of his former players at Colgate University and was able to land defensemen Allyson Simpson and goaltender Kayle Osborne, two players he has coached the past four seasons in upstate New York.
Simpson the past two years racked up 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists) in 80 games over the past two years in college hockey. In net for the Raiders, Osborne went 20-4-1, with 6 shutouts, a .941 SV% and a 1.28 GAA in here Senior season, a good addition behind starting goaltender Corinne Schroeder, who just signed a new two-year deal to stay in New York.
Following the draft, general manager Pascal Daoust couldn’t be happier with how the night went for New York. “We are proud to present to our New York fans not only a remarkable number, but also a unique quality of athletes who are sure to give the team a new dimension,” said Daoust. “Talent, speed, and leadership mixed with success and championship experiences. The next season has already begun, New York!”
Daoust is right, the season has already begun with New York already off to a great start this summer, signing new head coach Greg Fargo and now adding some major talent in the draft. Now with the draft behind them, 1st overall pick Sarah Fillier is set to join Alex Carpenter as the two faces of New York hockey in the PWHL.
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