New York addressed a crucial need on offense by choosing forward Sarah Fillier from Princeton and the Canadian national team as the first pick in the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. Fillier, described as a 'generational player' by PWHL scouts, boasts an impressive resume, being a three-time Patty Kazmaier college player of the year finalist. Graduating with a degree in psychiatry, she concluded her four-year career at Princeton ranking sixth in school history with 93 goals and fourth with 193 points in 120 games.
Hailing from outside Toronto, Fillier clinched gold at the 2022 Beijing Games, where she tallied eight goals, securing the second spot in the tournament. She has also been a part of three Canadian world championship teams. Turning 24 recently, Fillier was anticipated to be the top pick and now joins a New York team undergoing changes, with Greg Fargo taking over as coach after a challenging season.
Expressing her excitement about playing in New York, Fillier mentioned the city's passionate fans and her familiarity with the area due to her time at school nearby. The draft, taking place in St. Paul, Minnesota, saw tennis legend Billie Jean King announcing the selections on stage, a moment Fillier described as surreal and unforgettable.
Ottawa followed New York by selecting Danielle Serdachny, a forward from Colgate and the Canadian national team. The defending champion Minnesota chose defenseman Claire Thompson, a Canadian national team player who took a break last season to focus on medical school.
The draft also saw the selection of the first Americans, forward Hannah Bilka and defenseman Cayla Barnes, by Boston and Montreal, respectively. Toronto rounded out the first round by picking forward Julia Gosling, reuniting her with Team Canada GM Gina Kingsbury and coach Troy Ryan.
New York's trade with Boston in the second round led to the selection of Czech Republic defenseman Daniela Pejsova, the first European player chosen. Praised for her speed and play-making ability, Fillier is expected to bolster New York's offense, which heavily relied on Alex Carpenter and Corinne Schroeder last season.
Fillier expressed her eagerness to contribute to New York's growth, citing the team's solid foundation and coach Fargo's leadership. With a career-best 30-goal season under her belt, Fillier's addition is poised to elevate New York's performance in the upcoming season.
