The New York Sirens have the largest representation among PWHL teams at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, with nine players set to compete in Denmark from November 6-16. Representing six countries, the Sirens contingent will be spread across the international tournament, bringing together some of the league's established stars and emerging talent.
The nine players include Sarah Fillier (Canada), Kristýna Kaltounková (Czechia), unsigned draft pick Elisa Holopainen (Finland), camp invite Celina Haider (Germany), Maja Nylén Persson (Sweden), Nicole Vallario (Switzerland), and Casey O’Brien, Emma Peschel and Callie Shanahan (United States). The tournament will provide a particularly exciting opportunity for the three American representatives, O’Brien, Peschel and Shanahan, who are all set to make their senior national team debuts. For the group, competing against the world's best offers an opportunity to represent their countries while continuing to prepare for the season ahead.
"It’s a very unique opportunity to play against my New York teammates internationally,” said Fillier. “It’s interesting because when you’re wearing a Canadian jersey I feel like you really tune out every other team, so we’ll be playing Team Czechia or the United States and you kind of forget you’re playing against your New York teammates. And then you’ll be on the flight home from worlds and be able to see everyone and reconnect and share some memories.”
The timing of the tournament makes it an especially important stretch for the Sirens. With the World Championship concluding November 16, the team will open training camp just two days later. The international competition will give these nine players an opportunity to enter camp with meaningful game experience already under their belts.
The Sirens are coming off a 2025-26 season that saw the team finish seventh in the standings with 36 points, narrowly missing the postseason for a third-consecutive year. Despite the result, New York showed signs of growth throughout the campaign, with a young core beginning to establish itself. Fillier continued to be a key offensive presence, while O'Brien and Kaltounková brought exciting young talent to the lineup. The experience gained by that group, combined with another offseason of roster development, gives the Sirens plenty to build on heading into the new season.
“We just need to focus on the group we have in the room and be a little more consistent,” said O’Brien when looking ahead to the team’s 2026-27 season. “I’m so confident that we’re going to be successful this year, we just need to believe in ourselves and stick to our game plan no matter any adversity we face. If we can keep some consistency throughout the season, I think we’re going to find ourselves in the playoffs.”
The Sirens will play their home opener against the Boston Fleet on December 6 at Prudential Center. With nine players first getting the chance to compete for gold in Denmark, New York will have plenty of storylines to follow before the puck drops on a new PWHL season.
PWHL Players Selected to World Championship Rosters by Team
- 9: New York Sirens
- 8: Montréal Victoire
- 8: PWHL Hamilton
- 8: PWHL Detroit
- 7: Seattle Torrent
- 7: Minnesota Frost
- 7: PWHL Las Vegas
- 6: Boston Fleet
- 6: Ottawa Charge
- 5: Toronto Sceptres
- 5: PWHL San Jose
- 3: Vancouver Goldeneyes