Frost Freeze Out Sirens 5-2 in First Preseason Scrimmage
The New York Sirens hit the ice for their first scrimmage of the preseason as the Minnesota Frost visited Codey Arena in New Jersey. After a few days of getting accumulated during training camp through drills and a team scrimmage, it was time to get some real game action for the first time leading up to the 2025-26 PWHL season.
The Sirens started Anne Cherkowski, Casey O’Brien and Kristýna Kaltounková for the forward line, Allyson Simpson and Jincy Roese on defense and Kayle Doyle in net. The Frost started Kaitlyn O’Donohune, Kelly Pannek and Kendall Coyne Schofield for the forward lines, Sidney Morin and Mae Batherson on defense and Nicole Hensley in net. Each team’s full lineup is listed below.
New York Sirens lines
Fecteau Vespa Girard
Kaltounkova O’Brien Cherkowski
Wheeler Hartje Bargman
Juodikis Paddington Norcross
Roese Simpson
Bernard Bourbonnais
Vallario Knowles
Doyle
Shanahan
Minnesota Frost lines
Coyne Schofield Pannek O’Donohue
Curl-Salemme Petrie Butorac
Hustler Segedi Knoll
Anderson Upson Machado
Extra: Mashuga
Batherson Morin
Bizal Rinker
Cooper Becker
Hensley
Boissionnault
It didn’t take long for the Frost to find the back of the net and who else but their captain to open the scoring. Kendall Coyne Schofield scored on Doyle to give Minnesota the 1-0 at just 4:27 in the first. The Frost continued to dominate early on, but the Sirens started to gain momentum themselves as they started putting shots on net and generating chances in the offensive zone. Although it wasn’t enough to get a goal for the Sirens, they ended the period down by one and had only been outshot 11-9.
Just over three minutes into the middle frame, Sirens winger Maddi Wheeler received a penalty for cross-checking. The Sirens headed to the penalty kill, but not even 30 seconds into the power play, Britta Curl-Salemme found the back of the net to give the Frost a 2-0 lead. Not long after, New York made a goaltender change, putting Callie Shanahan in net. Shanahan held the fort down for a bit, but Frost defender Mae Batherson’s shot was no match as she put Minnesota up 3-0 with just under five minutes to go in the second period. That’s the score that held when the buzzer sounded at the end of the middle frame.
Minnesota made a goaltender change at the start of the third, putting Marlene Boissonnault in net. The Frost dominated early in the period again, outshooting the Sirens 4-0 in the first four minutes. That sustained pressure resulted in a goal by Peyton Anderson which put the Frost up 4-0. New York tried to get some work done in the offensive zone, but nothing came to fruition. Savannah Norcoss took an interference penalty and Minnesota took advantage of the power play as Kelly Pannek netted her first goal of the game to extend the lead to 5-0. The Sirens finally got on the board at 12:21 in the third thanks to a goal from Wheeler. That goal gave the Sirens some life as they began peppering Minnesota's net with shots and maintained offensive zone pressure and eventually it paid off as Kaltounkova netted a beautiful goal to make it 5-2.
When the buzzer sounded, the Frost came away with the 5-2 win and outshot the Sirens 29-27. The two teams went through a five minute 3-on-3 sudden death overtime and a five round shootout after regulation just for practice, but the score remained final.
The Sirens are back in action Friday, November 14 at 12 PM EST as they take on the Frost again in the second and final preseason scrimmage before the 2025-26 season begins.