In the midst of the chaos of the Draft circus for newly minted PWHL Ottawa star forward Danielle Serdachny, the second overall pick took time to speak with The Hockey News.
In the midst of the chaos of the Draft circus for newly minted PWHL Ottawa star forward Danielle Serdachny, the second overall pick took time to speak with The Hockey News.
Danielle Serdachny is that number one centre all teams want to secure. For Ottawa they have their woman heading into their second season after drafting Danielle Serdachny second overall at the 2024 PWHL Draft. Serdachny has the size at 5-foot-9, combined with the skating, hockey IQ, and rocket of a shot to be that generational talent Ottawa missed last season when others teams around the league had the likes of Marie-Philip Poulin, Taylor Heise and Hilary Knight.
Serdachny did not hold back her excitement about joining PWHL Ottawa.
“I'm super excited to be joining Ottawa and kind of the future there,” said Serdachny.
She has already begun to meet staff and her teammates including her best friend Stephanie Markowski who she grew up playing together since they were four years old in preschool.
“Definitely a really cool moment for me,” said Serdachny.
Not only were Serdachny and Markowski childhood best friends but they were joined at the hip by head coach Carla MacLeod at the 2019 Canada Games where they won the gold medal for Team Alberta.
“Carla is very passionate and caring and she wants the best for her players. So super looking forward to working with her the whole season.”
Serdachny describes it as a whirlwind taking part in the entire Draft process this week in Minnesota and is incredibly appreciative of the formation of professional women’s hockey league in the PWHL.
“I’ve been running all over the place, but I'm super grateful for the opportunity and fortunate to be a part of the draft class this year,” said Serdachny. “Even with the award ceremony, there you can see the amount of people that have made this league possible. I think that's just so important for the growth of the league and the continued development of it. It's been super cool for me and then obviously for my parents and family, it was really special and something I remember for a long time.”
When asked what number Serdachny plans to wear as the future franchise pillar, she is undecided, a number that possibly could be etched in the minds of so many PWHL Ottawa fans.
“Either 9 or 92,” said Serdachny. We filled out a preference form earlier, and I put 92 as my first pick. I'm a big fan of nine but with the national team, that number was kind of already taken. I would just say the 9 and 92. 9 has been my family number growing up and then the number 2 is what my cousin wore growing up. It’s a unique number. But I like it.”
In celebration of becoming a professional hockey player, Serdachny went with her family and the other PWHL Draft picks with the PWHL Ottawa staff to a restaurant to celebrate on the night of the draft.
“My family and all of us met there at a restaurant and I got to know the staff and draft picks and players, I’m very excited to be going to Ottawa.”