The New York Siren has selected Colgate forward Kristýna Kaltounková at the 2025 PWHL Draft, adding a power forward with a preference for goal.
Kaltounková is the first European player to be selected from the PWHL and the highest player in the Czech Republic.
“It’s a huge honor not only for myself, but for my country and my teammates,” Carlton Kova told reporters in the historic draft.
Earlier this year, Kaltounková became the first player in the Czech Republic, becoming the top player in the Colgate College Hockey Awards this season, scoring 48 points in 37 games.
She is the all-time leading goal scorer for Colgate, with 111 goals in five seasons.
Last spring, Kaltounková tied for draft-qualifying striker Natálie Mlýnková scored a lead in scoring (six of seven games) in her World Championship debut.
Watch |Sirens table kaltounková with first choice:
The sirens can be inserted into Kaltounková on its first row with Sarah Fillier, giving the convoy two real shooting threats and filling a hole left by Alex Carpenter when he left during the expansion.
The five-foot-nine striker should also be able to help make room for Fillier skills on the ice.
Kaltounková is New York's second first knockout in three PWHL seasons, second only to GM Pascal Daoust Daoust's choice of Fillier in 2024.
New York shone again in the first round, moving top defender Ella Shelton to Toronto in exchange for a first- and fourth-round draft pick for the Scepter.
The Siren added UW forward Casey O'Brien.
O'Brien is the center of high-end vision that will add more skills to the forward team in New York.
O'Brien scored 88 points in just 41 games, won the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award, becoming the best player in college hockey. Along the way, the American passed Hilary Knight to become the historical leader of Wisconsin’s career (274).
“She's the kind of player who can form a team,” said Gordie Stafford, who is Mary's.
To put her time in college’s perspective, only seven players in NCAA women’s hockey history have accumulated more careers, and no one has gained a richer offensive season since Carpenter won 88 points with Boston College in 2016.
O'Brien won the Wisconsin team's national title last season, her third in five seasons.
O'Brien's long-term skills coach Paul Vincent told CBC Sports. “She has excellent lateral mobility, the ability to cut and open a dime. She's quick.”
First round draft picks:
- New York Siren: Kristina Cartonkova
- Boston Fleet: Clarkson University guard Haley Winn
- New York Siren (acquired through trade from Toronto): Casey O'Brien, Advance, University of Wisconsin
- Montreal Vidor: Clarkson guard Nicole Gosling
- Ottawa Charging: Cornell guard Rory Guildday
- Minnesota Cream: Quinnipiac guard Kendall Cooper
- PWHL Vancouver: Michelle Karvin, striker, Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL)
- Seattle PWHL: Jenna Buglioni, Ohio State forward
The defender leaves the board as soon as possible
Four defenders were selected in the first round. Almost every team except the Guards need to add the top four defenders, and there is a clear gap between the top four’s defensive prospects and other areas.
Winn was the second highest defender in the NCAA last year. Only Caroline Harvey of Wisconsin improved Winn's 46 points.
She has won the world championship of Team USA twice and will be the American blue line in the Olympics next year.
Clarkson head coach Matt Desrosiers described Winn as a “full pack.”
“[She’s] The Desrosiers told CBC Sports before the draft that this is a very dynamic defender who is really good at offense, but equally strong on defense.
Winn became Montreal Victoire's first Canadian pick in Clarkson's defensive partner Nicole Gosling became Montreal Victoire's fourth pick.
23 years old from London, Ontario. He is a smart two-way defender who can serve at a quarterback.
She became the world champion of the Canadian team in 2024 and will now play with several national team players in Montreal as she strives to be the Olympics.
Ottawa alleges pick Cornell guard Rory Guildday with the fifth pick. A defensive defensive player who is somewhat afraid of his game, Jillje will work with players like Jocelyne Larocque and Ronja Savolainen.
Quinnipiac guard Kendall Cooper became the fourth and last defender in the first round, finishing sixth in dominant champion Minnesota Frost.
Finnish veteran becomes first Vancouver draft pick
With the team's first draft pick in history, PWHL Vancouver chose experience with Finnish striker Michelle Karvinen.
The 35-year-old has done almost everything in his long career, playing football throughout Europe and won Finland’s first Olympic bronze medal in 2010.
Seattle ended the game by picking forward Jenna Buglioni from Ohio State's Jenna Buglioni.
Trade market activity at draft night
Cassie Campbell-Pascall occasionally appeared on the stage to announce the deal.
In addition to adding Sheldon, one of the world's best young defenders, Toronto Scepter sent goalkeeper Kristen Campbell to Vancouver. Campbell struggles during the playoffs and will make his mark in Vancouver, while Maschmeyer will be the starter.
Montreal Victoria also added Abby Roque from New York, while defensive center Kristin O'Neill went another way.
