New York Sirens forward Taylor Girard has been suspended for four games by the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Player Safety Committee. The suspension, announced Monday, January 19, 2026, is the longest in the league's history. It stems from an incident at the conclusion of Sunday's game against Montreal Victoire, held in Washington, D.C., as part of the PWHL's Takeover Tour.
With the Sirens holding onto a 2-1 lead in the final seconds, a scrum erupted as the final horn sounded. The altercation involved several players, including high-profile names like Marie-Philip Poulin and Kristyna Kaltounkova. Girard, who was on the bench, entered the fray and knocked down Montreal defender Maggie Flaherty before a larger pile-up ensued.
Girard received a 10-minute misconduct penalty and a game misconduct for leaving the bench to participate in the altercation. According to PWHL rule 72.10, a player who illegally leaves the bench to engage in an altercation receives an automatic four-game suspension. For context, a similar infraction in the National Hockey League (NHL) results in an automatic 10-game suspension, equivalent to roughly 12 percent of the regular season. Girard's four-game suspension equates to approximately 13 percent of the PWHL season.
As a result of the suspension, Girard will be sidelined until after the Olympic break, missing the Sirens' upcoming games. She is eligible to return on March 5 when New York faces the Boston Fleet.
Taylor Girard has had a strong start to the season, recording a career-high five goals in 13 games, matching her previous point total of six from the league's inaugural season with Boston. Prior to the suspension, Girard also led the New York Sirens in penalty minutes with 30.
The New York Sirens are one of the original six teams in the PWHL. They play their home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The team is currently in second place in the PWHL standings. The Sirens named Micah Zandee-Hart as their inaugural captain and drafted Ella Shelton with their first pick, fourth overall, in 2023. Greg Fargo is the head coach.
