New Era Begins: NY Sirens Open Training Camp with Speed, Skill, and Championship Aspirations

WEST ORANGE, NJ – The New York Sirens opened training camp at Essex County Codey Arena with a palpable sense of urgency, optimism, and hunger. After two consecutive last-place finishes since the PWHL’s inception, the Sirens are embracing a fresh identity built on speed, skill, and relentless aggression—and the message from players and staff is clear: this year will be different.

Through the first two days of camp, the energy has been electric. A revamped roster featuring three first-round draft picks, key veteran additions, and a coaching staff led by head coach Greg Fargos has created an atmosphere that feels more like a playoff contender than a rebuilding project.

“It feels really high energy,” said defenseman Jamie Bourbonnais, entering her third season with the franchise. “We have a really young team this year, but I think it’s going to work to our advantage. Everyone’s coming out of college with a ton of confidence and just feels like everybody’s really excited to be together. Everyone’s cheering for everything in practice. So it feels really light and it’s super fun to be back with everyone.”

A Permanent Home and a New Beginning

For the first time in franchise history, the Sirens have stability. A permanent home at Codey Arena, a full coaching staff, a roster built with intention, and most importantly, a core group of players determined to shed the label of “basement dwellers.”

Captain Sarah Fillier, the face of the franchise and one of the league’s brightest stars, reflected on the whirlwind offseason that saw significant roster turnover, including the departure of key veterans to expansion teams.

“Yeah, I mean definitely a lot of emotions; I lost some friends and some pretty good players, but super excited for them to go play out in expansion teams,” Fillier said. “I think that’ll be great for the league, but excited about the changes we made. I think we brought in a lot of young, skilled, fast talent, which kind of mixes well with my game, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The Sirens’ offseason moves were bold and deliberate. GM Pascal Daoust and his staff prioritized speed, skill, and offensive creativity—qualities that were sorely lacking in previous seasons. The result? A roster that looks faster, younger, and more dangerous than ever before.

Fillier’s Dominant Rookie Season: A Foundation to Build On

Fillier enters her second PWHL season as the reigning Rookie of the Year and one of the league’s most electrifying players. In the 2024-25 season, she posted 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 30 games, tying for the league lead in points with Minnesota’s Hilary Knight and earning the PWHL Points Leader award.

Her individual accolades were historic: PWHL Rookie of the Year, PWHL First All-Star Team, and PWHL All-Rookie Team. She led the Sirens in scoring, tallied 5 power-play goals, and averaged 19:38 of ice time per game—a testament to her two-way game and ability to play in all situations.

Despite her individual success, the team’s last-place finish left Fillier hungry for more. This offseason, she focused on adding physicality and poise to her game, preparing for the increased attention she’ll receive as the league’s reigning points leader and the Sirens’ primary offensive weapon.

“This year you’re pretty much going to be the main target for everybody’s game plan,” Fillier acknowledged. “Yeah, I mean, I haven’t really thought about that much. I think I’ve just continued to try and grow my game. It’s a pretty big year with it being an Olympic year, so I’ve kind of worked on playing with a bit more physicality. That’s a huge part of this league, and I think that’s what players do to try and get under your skin sometimes, is come at you physically. So, just being able to play with that physical edge, but also playing with a bit more poise to find my line mates, who I probably haven’t played with a ton going into this year.”

Defining the Identity: Aggressive, Relentless, and Hungry

One of the most consistent themes throughout the first two days of camp has been the emphasis on establishing a clear team identity. After two seasons of searching for an identity, the Sirens know exactly what they want to be.

“Yeah, I think we want to play a really aggressive game,” Fillier explained. “We have a ton of speed; we don’t have the biggest or the tallest forward group out there, but we have a ton of speed, a ton of skill, and we can already see that already in our first couple of practices. So just playing aggressively with an edge, and I think just being relentless on the forecheck, and hopefully we can put a bunch of pucks in the back of the net.”

That identity was on full display during Day 1’s scrimmage, where the pace was high, the compete level was intense, and the skill was undeniable. Fillier, who skated alongside rookies Casey O’Brien and Anne Cherkowski, was particularly impressed by the hockey IQ and offensive instincts of the Sirens’ top draft picks.

“I was playing with Casey and Anne yesterday in our little scrimmage, and the way they see the ice and see the game is super high level for players out of college,” Fillier said. “It was super fun to play with them, and Colty looks solid; she’s playing super physical, and she definitely has a scoring touch, so I think we have a good group of new players in the mix.”

The Rookie Class: Confidence, Skill, and Immediate Impact

The Sirens’ 2025 draft class has been the talk of camp. With three first-round talents—Casey O’Brien, Anne Cherkowski, and Julia Coltman—the Sirens added an infusion of youth, speed, and offensive firepower that has already turned heads.

Fillier, who made the jump from college to the PWHL just one year ago, has taken on a mentorship role with the rookies, offering guidance on navigating the chaos of professional hockey.

“I don’t know if there’s a key; I think everyone’s different,” Fillier said. “I think you just have to be okay that it’s going to be chaotic. Coming into a new building, new environment, new city, totally new staff, new teammates, I think we’re lucky that a lot of our draft picks have played together in the past or know each other pretty well, so they look pretty comfortable here. They’re playing with a lot of confidence, which is, I think, all you can ask from your draft class.”

Bourbonnais echoed that sentiment, praising the rookies’ energy and fearlessness.

“I feel like that’s just the vibe that we’re getting on the ice,” Bourbonnais said. “You can really see it in the young girls, the energy. I feel like you just have to roll with what’s working, and that’s what looks like it’s going to work for us this season. Again, we have young energy, so if we can just maintain that hunger, that 100% effort all the time on every puck, I think it’s going to work to our advantage.”

Girard, Fecteau, and Vespa: A Dangerous Trio Emerges

While the draft picks have captured much of the attention, one of the most intriguing storylines through the first two days of camp has been the emergence of a dangerous forward line featuring Taylor Girard, Emmy Fecteau, and Kayla Vespa. The trio has turned heads with their chemistry, skill, and offensive creativity—catching the eye of head coach Greg Fargos and energizing the veteran core.

Girard, in particular, has been a standout, showcasing impressive stick-handling skills and a lethal backhand shot that has drawn praise from coaches and teammates alike. The former PHF Newcomer of the Year and 2021 NWHL/PHF first overall draft pick has looked every bit the elite offensive threat she was during her time with the Connecticut Whale, where she led the league with four short-handed goals and ranked in the top four with 28 points, 18 assists, and four power-play goals in the 2021-22 season.

Girard’s college career was equally impressive. At Quinnipiac University, she recorded 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in two seasons and led the Bobcats in scoring during her senior year. Before that, she led Lindenwood University in scoring as a sophomore and finished her three-year tenure with 19 goals and 16 assists in 66 games. As a freshman at Lindenwood, she led the team with 80 shots on goal and played in all 33 games.

Training Camp Photos:

Player Notes:

Fecteau, a two-time U Sports champion with Concordia University (2022, 2024), brings championship pedigree and two-way versatility to the line. The former Concordia captain and assistant captain earned RSEQ All-Star honors in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, Second Team All-Canadian honors in 2022-23, and was awarded the 2023 Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Award from Hockey Canada. She also won a Gold Medal with Team Canada at the 2023 Winter University Games and was named to the U Sports Top 8 Academic All-Canadian Team.

Vespa, a three-year PWHPA veteran, rounds out the trio with her playmaking ability and hockey IQ. During the 2022-23 PWHPA season, she posted 11 points in 20 games. At St. Lawrence University, Vespa ranked fourth among all skaters in scoring during her final season (2019-20), earning 11 points in 19 games. She was a two-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team honoree (2017-18, 2018-19) and earned ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week honors in 2016-17 after leading all rookies with 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) during her freshman year. Before college, Vespa captained the Stoney Creek Sabres to the 2015 PWHL (Provincial Women’s Hockey League) Championship and won the 2014 Ontario Provincial Championship.

The energy and confidence brought by the college kids and younger players over the first two days of camp have been infectious, pumping up the team’s veterans and creating a competitive, high-tempo environment that has impressed the coaching staff.

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Lines Taking Shape: Day 2 Observations

On Day 2, the Sirens took the ice with a renewed focus on structure and execution. While head coach Greg Fargos has not finalized line combinations, several intriguing pairings began to emerge during practice.

Fillier’s chemistry with O’Brien and Cherkowski was evident, as the trio showcased speed, vision, and offensive creativity. The Girard-Fecteau-Vespa line continued to impress with its cohesion and offensive instincts. On the blue line, Bourbonnais expressed excitement about pairing with veteran defenseman Jincy Roese, a smooth-skating, offensively gifted defender acquired in the offseason.

“I’m excited to play with Jincy,” Bourbonnais said. “Obviously, I’ve played against her for a couple of years now, and she’s such a smooth skater, such an offensive threat, so it’s fun learning from her and playing with her after, you know, watching her for so many years.”

The team also spent significant time working on net-front presence, an area that has plagued the Sirens over the past two seasons. Boxing out, establishing position, and capitalizing on rebounds were key focal points during drills.

“Yeah, actually, we were talking about this in the dressing room, how big boxing out has gotten in our league,” Bourbonnais said. “I feel like that’s just been a really big emphasis this summer for a lot of players, for myself included. Being tougher in front of the net—that’s where most goals are scored—and we’ve done a ton of goal scoring presentations showing you know the statistics on that, so I feel like everybody’s just really thinking about that and thinking about it from a defensive standpoint and going to really put an emphasis on that.”

Veteran Leadership: Bourbonnais Brings Championship Pedigree

Bourbonnais, entering her third season with the Sirens, brings a wealth of championship experience and international success to a young defensive corps. The 27-year-old defender has represented Team Canada at the highest levels, earning Gold Medals at the 2021 and 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships, a Silver Medal in 2023, and a Bronze Medal in 2019. She also captured a Silver Medal with Team Canada at the 2016 Under-18 World Junior Championship.

Before joining the PWHL, Bourbonnais spent three seasons in the PWHPA (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23) and won the 2021 PWHPA Secret Cup with Team Bauer. Her college career at Cornell was equally decorated: she earned NCAA First Team All-American honors and was a Patty Kazmaier Award Top 10 Finalist in 2019-20, won ECAC Hockey Best Defenseman honors in 2019 and 2020, and was named to the ECAC Hockey First Team in 2019.

In the 2024-25 PWHL season, Bourbonnais posted 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 30 games, adding to her 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) from the inaugural 2024 season. Her 54 career PWHL games have produced 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists), along with 1 power-play goal, 2 game-winning goals, and 37 blocked shots.

“I want to bring more this year,” Bourbonnais said. “I wasn’t overly happy with my season last year, and I’ve worked really hard this summer. I feel like I’m coming into this season with a lot of confidence. I just want to contribute and help my team get to the playoffs this season.”

Captain’s Commitment: Zandee-Hart’s Extension and Olympic Pedigree

One of the most significant storylines entering camp was captain Micah Zandee-Hart’s decision to re-sign with the Sirens despite the opportunity to return home to Vancouver via the expansion draft.

Zandee-Hart, 27, is one of the most decorated players in women’s hockey. She won a Gold Medal with Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, earned a Silver Medal at the 2023 World Championship, and captured a Bronze Medal at the 2019 World Championship. Her international resume also includes a Silver Medal at the 2015 Under-18 IIHF World Junior Championship and a Gold Medal at the 2014 Under-18 World Junior Championship.

At Cornell, Zandee-Hart was a trailblazer, serving as captain for three seasons (2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18)—only the second sophomore in program history to earn the captaincy. In her senior season (2019-20), she ranked 2nd among all Cornell defenders in points with 32 (7 goals, 25 assists) and ranked 4th among all NCAA Division I defenders in points per game (1.03). As a freshman, she led all Cornell defenders in points (18) and led all NCAA Division I defenders in points per game. She was also a 2017 ECAC Defender of the Year Finalist.

In the PWHL, Zandee-Hart has appeared in 49 games across two seasons, posting 13 points (1 goal, 12 assists), 1 power-play goal, 1 game-winning goal, and a team-leading 55 blocked shots. In the 2024-25 season, she tallied 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in 30 games while logging heavy minutes as the Sirens’ top defender.

Zandee-Hart’s loyalty and commitment to the franchise sent a powerful message to the locker room: this team has unfinished business.

“Yeah, I think it’s awesome,” Fillier said. “I think when we saw that announcement, we were all excited. I said it to your extension because I think we have something good here that we can build, and hopefully go chase after a championship. It’s just exciting to see someone who wears the C on her jersey to be completely bought into that, even if there are rumors about going home to Vancouver. We all know in that locker room that she’s dead set on being a Siren, and we’re happy to have her.”

Bourbonnais, a college teammate of Zandee-Hart’s at Cornell, was equally effusive in her praise.

“She’s a loyal person, loyal friend, loyal captain,” Bourbonnais said. “There’s no one else that I’d rather play with. She’s one of my best friends, and I could say a million good things about her, but I feel like her signing, extending her contract, just speaks to her character. Instead of going home, be with her fiancé and her cat, she decided to stay here and play with all of us weirdos. So I’m pretty happy. Again, selfishly, she’s an amazing person, player, so we’re really fortunate that she’s so loyal.”

Cornell Reunion: Zandee-Hart, Bourbonnais, and Kristen Simms

The Sirens’ locker room now features a Cornell reunion, as Zandee-Hart, Bourbonnais, and newly acquired forward Kristen Simms are all back together after playing four years together in college.

“Oh my gosh, I am like so excited to have her,” Bourbonnais said of Simms. “Yeah, Micah, Kristen, and I went to school together for four years at Cornell, and our 2020 season was when COVID happened, so we didn’t get to finish out our season where we were ranked number one. So we’re calling it our redemption year. We get some unfinished business, so I’m so excited. She’s a really great friend of mine, a great leader, puts in 100% effort all the time. She’s nothing but a great addition for us, and I’m selfishly really excited to have her.”

Fillier praised Simms’ versatility and two-way game.

“Yeah, I mean, she’s like the definition of a utility player, I think,” Fillier said. “She can bury pucks and score goals, but is going to be able to shut down other teams’ first lines, she can PK, she can power play, she plays with a lot of grit, and she’s kind of the definition of leads by example, in the gym, off the ice, in the community, and everything, so I think she’s a great addition to our team.”

Building on the Foundation: What Went Right Last Season

Despite back-to-back last-place finishes, the Sirens are not treating the past two seasons as a complete wash. Both Fillier and Bourbonnais emphasized the importance of building on the foundation laid in the second half of last season.

“I think we have a good core that’s left over, and again, that core that’s here wants more than 8th place,” Fillier said. “I think we had that a bit in our game, that identity of being aggressive and being relentless and scrapping for points. I think everyone who’s coming back from last year is excited to bring on all the rookies and the reserve players that we signed, and players we got in trades, and just bring them on to that game plan and try to get everyone up to speed as quickly as we can.”

Bourbonnais echoed that sentiment, noting that the team’s resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity will be critical this season.

“Every game is so close in this league. Everybody’s so good. So it’s inches,” Bourbonnais said. “And I feel like last year we got in that losing streak, and it was hard to claw our way out of it. I feel like this year we just need to bring each other up a little bit more if we do get in a slump like that, because that stuff’s going to happen. We’re going to lose games. We know that. But I feel like it’s just us. Our resilience needs to be a bit better, and working together as a group, and I already feel like we have a really good group of girls to do that.”

Greg Fargos: A Lighter Touch, A Winning Mentality

Head coach Greg Fargos has brought a new energy to the Sirens’ bench. Known for his success at Colgate, where he built a consistently competitive program, Fargos has impressed players with his knowledge, enthusiasm, and ability to create a positive, high-energy environment.

“I feel like he just is lighter,” Bourbonnais said. “I mean, it’s the start of the season, so we haven’t played any games yet. So we’ll see how it progresses. But he just seems really excited. I feel like he’s an amazing coach. I played at Cornell, and he was at Colgate, and I hated playing against their team because he was always so amazing. He just seems really light, excited. I feel like that’s kind of the mentality of all the girls. Everyone just seems like it’s a fresh start. So it’s really nice to be back with him and learn from him. He’s so knowledgeable. So there’s no one else I would rather behind me right now. It’s amazing.”

High Expectations: Playoffs or Bust

The Sirens are not shying away from expectations. After two years of disappointment, the players, coaching staff, and front office are all aligned on one goal: to make the playoffs.

Fillier was emphatic about the team’s goals.

“Everyone in that locker room and staff included, it feels like everyone’s hungry for more than just last place this year,” Fillier said. “And I think our draft classes really just hopped on that too, just being hungry to hunt down teams and scrap for points, and yeah, I think we have high expectations for our group.”

The stakes are high—not just for the players, but for GM Pascal Daoust and head coach Greg Fargos. With the Sirens playing in one of the league’s largest markets, another last-place finish would be unacceptable.

The Road Ahead

As training camp continues, the Sirens will finalize their roster, solidify their line combinations, and prepare for the season opener. The talent is there. The energy is there. The hunger is there.

Now, it’s time to prove it on the ice.

“I feel like we are able to set our bar pretty high,” Bourbonnais said. “Like, again, everything’s so close. Like, we’ve missed playoffs by only a couple of points last year. So I don’t think we’re looking back at the last two seasons and calling it a complete wash. I think there are things that we can take from it. I do feel like we are really big contenders this season, though. Like, even being out in practice, the pace is high. We got a lot of really good draft picks, got a lot of players like O’Neal, Rose. So it’s going to be awesome to see everybody come together and gel. And I have really high expectations for this group. And I feel like the fans should be excited.”

The New York Sirens are no longer content to be the league’s basement dwellers. This is a team with speed, skill, and a chip on its shoulder. This is a team ready to compete.

And with Sarah Fillier—the reigning Rookie of the Year, league points leader, and First Team All-Star—alongside Olympic champions Micah Zandee-Hart and Jamie Bourbonnais, plus emerging offensive threats like Taylor Girard, Emmy Fecteau, and Kayla Vespa, the Sirens have every reason to believe this year will be different.

The era of losing is over. The era of winning starts now.

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