The Professional Women’s Hockey League has handed down its most severe suspension to date by penalizing New York Sirens forward Taylor Girard with a four-game ban. Girard was disciplined for leaving the bench to participate in an altercation that occurred at the end of New York’s 2-1 victory over Montreal.
During the on-ice scuffle near the Sirens’ goal as the game concluded, Girard collided with Montreal defender Maggie Flaherty, causing her to fall. Both teams saw four players each receive 10-minute misconduct penalties, but Girard received an additional 20-minute penalty for leaving the bench, leading to the significant suspension under the league’s regulations.
The PWHL Player Safety Committee reviewed the incident and upheld the suspension, marking the lengthiest ban in the league’s history. Previously, the longest suspension was a two-game penalty issued to Seattle defender Aneta Tejralova for an illegal check to the head in a game against the Sirens.
Girard, who is currently ineligible to play until New York faces Boston on March 5 after the league’s Olympic break, is in her third season in the PWHL and second with the Sirens. Despite her productive performance with five goals this season, Girard now leads the league in penalty minutes with 30 in 13 games, having not received any penalties earlier in the season.
The incident occurred during a PWHL game held at the NHL Washington Capitals’ home arena, attracting a record crowd of 17,228 spectators and setting a new attendance record for professional women’s hockey games in the United States.