PWHL Players of the Week: Sirens step up in first week of 2026
Happy New Year, everyone! How many days into the new year can you say “Happy New Year?” I think you’re safe within the first week, or maybe the first day back to work or school from the holidays. But anything beyond that? Get outta here.
Anyway, uh … oh yeah, hockey! The PWHL saw plenty of action last week, a total of six games with a pair of Takeover Tour contests over the weekend. The New York Sirens looked strong while the Ottawa Charge started 2026 with a bang. We were also treated to some top-notch individual performances from the aforementioned clubs.
Here are this week’s Daily Faceoff PWHL Players of the Week.
Kristyna Kaltounkova, F (New York Sirens)
The New York Sirens took Kristyna Kaltounkova No. 1 overall in the 2025 PWHL Draft last spring, and right now, the Czech forward is a force to be reckoned with. After scoring just one goal in her first six games, the Kaltounkova has four goals in her last four contests, recording one against the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Montreal Victoire this week.
Rookie to rookie 🤝
We’re starting to see her look more and more comfortable with each passing shift, a maturity could take full seasons for rookies in this or other leagues. Kaltounkova has shown an ability to find space in the offensive zone and create room for herself, or lift an opponent’s stick with ease and give her team possession.
Her goal against the Goldeneyes was her highlight of the week. She takes a pass at the blue line, dekes out one skater, has a pass intercepted but then gets her own turnover back, then snaps a writer past the Vancouver netminder.
Kristýna Kaltounková continues her strong rookie campaign for the Sirens with her fourth goal of the season 🇨🇿 📺: Vancouver 🆚 New York live on SN1 or stream on Sportsnet+
Kaltounkova is tied for second in the league with five goals, which leads all PWHL rookies. With Casey O’Brien and Maddi Wheeler, the Sirens’ freshman class could help fuel them into a playoff spot in 2025-26.
Rory Guilday, D (Ottawa Charge)
If you were asked which rookie skater would lead the league in points after the holidays, you might lean towards any one of Kaltounkova or O’Brien out of New York. Heck, no one would fault you for picking Boston Fleet defender Haley Winn, who right now already looks like a superstar.
But all those guesses would be wrong, as it’s Charge blueliner Rory Guilday who leads all rookies with eight points, including an assist during the team’s 5-2 win over the Minnesota Frost on Saturday.
Brianne Jenner gives Ottawa an early lead 🚨 Watch Frost vs. Charge on SN1 or stream on Sportsnet+ 📺
However, it was the play away from the puck that stood out, as the 5-foot-11 defender is flashing signs of an elite stay-at-home defenders that coaches covet in their lineup.
Playing 23:11 and finishing with a plus-two rating against the Frost, Guilday had what felt like a dozen little plays that go unnoticed: Winning puck battles, stick lifts, smart first passes out of the zone, clearing the front of the Charge net. These are the things you expect out of a savvy veteran who is on the back-9 of their career. Instead, it’s a rookie campaign for the Ottawa defender.
Guilday was named to the U.S. national women’s roster this week for the 2026 Winter Olympics. She’s no stranger to the national team, having played in three World Championships, but this will be her first taste of Olympic hockey. If she plays like she has for Ottawa, the U.S. will be even bigger favorites than they already are.
Kayle Osborne, G (New York Sirens)
The Sirens are on a three-game winning streak, and a big reason for it is the play of goaltender Kayle Osborne. The second-year netminder earned two wins this week, including a 27-save shutout against the Goldeneyes, followed by a 42-save performance in a a 4-3 win over the Victoire.
GREAT WALL OF NEW YORK 🏙️ Kayle Osborne seals @PWHL_NewYork win with 27 saves at home!
Osborne is the only PWHL goaltender to have started every game for their team at this point in the season, but judging by her last three starts, which include a 30-save win Dec. 28 against the Seattle Torrent, she’s showing no signs of rust, posting 5-5-0 record with two shutouts, a .922 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average in 10 games.
There’s no doubt the likes of Kaltounkova, O’Brien, Taylor Girard and Sarah Fillier are a big reason for New York’s success, as they’re now 5-0-0-5 with 15 points, third in the league standings. But if the Sirens plan on making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, it will be the play of Osborne that gets them there.