Taylor Girard returned to the Tsongas Center in Lowell no longer a member of the Boston Fleet, and saved her best game of the year, now as a member of the New York Sirens, for her former team.
Taylor Girard returned to the Tsongas Center in Lowell no longer a member of the Boston Fleet, and saved her best game of the year, now as a member of the New York Sirens, for her former team.
Taylor Girard returned to Boston on Friday night after being traded less than two weeks prior to the New York Sirens.
On January 21, 2025 the second trade of the PWHL 2024-25 season took place. Boston traded forward Taylor Girard to the New York Sirens in exchange for forward Jill Saulnier.
The trade was done quickly and both players jumped right into their respective team’s lineups. The Sirens played again just four days later and the Fleet played one day after the trade with Saulnier in the lineup.
As for the quick turn around, Siren’s Girard said, “Boston was on a break, and New York was on a break at the same time. I had an extra day to kind of move my stuff out there. It's not too far of a drive, [I] got out there, got to practice with the girls, and everyone was super inviting and awesome. It was honestly a smooth transition”.
Ten days after the trade took place, the Sirens and Fleet faced one another for the second time this season. However the lines looked different as Girard warmed up in a Sirens jersey and Saulnier in a Fleet jersey.
The two teams battled for points, with Boston leaving Lowell victorious in a shootout win.
Girard, who had played a season and a half with the Fleet, got a warm welcome back with a tribute video.
Fans also welcomed Girard back with signs and bracelets, thanking her for the time she spent on the team.
Girard recorded a season-high 11:55 time on ice, and also an assist. The assist was her first point of the season in her eighth game and third with the Sirens. It was fitting that in the return to Boston Girard had a record game.
Girard said she felt optimistic about her future with the Sirens.
“I am just so excited for what’s to come with my time here in New York. I am excited because it’s a great group of girls, everybody is so talented. I think we have the potential to go all the way with this group” she said.
Although Girard had a special reunion on the ice, she also had one off the ice with her former roommate and “duo-partner” Lexie Adzija.
The two lived together for two years and when asked about the reunion, Girard said, “It was good, we got dinner” she elaborated and said, “it was steak”.
Not only did Girard have a good night, Fleet’s Jill Saulnier recorded a season-high 11:49 time on ice in her first game against her former team.
The gritty and physical game went into overtime and ended in a shootout, where Boston came out victorious.
The Fleet play again on February 12, 2025 at the Prudential Center where they will once again face the New York Sirens.