New York Sirens Welcome Kristýna Kaltounková
Local fans got to know their first-overall pick and general manager at this interesting event.
On Sunday, Sept. 28, the New York Sirens hosted a “welcome party” for their newly signed first-overall draft pick, Kristýna Kaltounková. Sirens fans took over a sports bar in Newark, NJ, right next to the team’s home arena at the Prudential Center. The event included giveaways, raffle prizes, a Q&A with Kaltounková and General Manager Pascal Daoust, followed by an autograph session.
Despite starting at 10 in the morning, the party was well-attended, with a mix of adults and kids all excited for the next season of professional women’s hockey in the New York area. The friendship bracelet-making station was a favorite, as the table in the center of the event space seemed to be constantly occupied with people stringing together beads, then sharing and trading their creations, much like at Sirens games. In short, the vibes were good, which hopefully bodes well for fan attitudes in the upcoming season.
LJ Bachenheimer
The highlight of the event was the Q&A session, which gave attendees a chance to get to know Daoust and Kaltounková ahead of the 2025-26 PWHL season. Both were friendly and offered a good sense of humor as they were asked about the upcoming season and some of their favorite things.
Asked about his thought process for building the new-look New York Sirens, Daoust joked about needing new players to sell more jerseys, which got a chuckle out of the crowd. In seriousness, he emphasized the importance of the players drafted in later rounds and building the team’s identity as “the only women’s hockey team in the best market in the world, with the best players in the world.” Daoust explained how challenging last season was, as the Sirens moved to Prudential Center only eight weeks before the 2024-25 season started, yet had to build a schedule and a space to train while negotiating with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
The GM also spoke highly of his first-overall draft pick. Daoust said that watching Kaltounková live is completely different than watching her on screen, as she’s a complete player with a “17,000 foot game.” With a laugh, he added, “The only shot she would fear to block is her own.” Daoust also won points with the New Jersey crowd for saying no to pineapple on pizza, but he refused to admit his bagel order. Kaltounková, on the other hand, readily offered that she prefers a toasted plain bagel with butter, joking that Czechs love their bread and butter
When asked about her game, Kaltounková described herself similarly. “I like playing on the edge, there will be a lot of physicality,” she said. “But I hope I won’t be spending as much time in the penalty box… I like to stir the pot.” Fans responded with a cheer, clearly excited for a gritty player unafraid to play hard. As a fun fact, Kaltounková noted that one of the reasons she likes blocking shots is that she played goalie in ball hockey.
She also detailed how she came to be the player she is, describing how she started skating at three years old, inspired by her older brother and small hockey community in Czechia. She played with boys until she came to the United States at 15, which she said wasn’t easy, as she was subject to bullying from her teammates and targeting from opposing teams. “I have a couple scars on my chin from that, I didn’t give up easy,” Kaltounková said. She credited her family with supporting her throughout her journey, and said she even got emotional when they joined her on draft day in Ottawa. “On the ice, I’m not really soft, but off the ice I’m a big softie.”
The welcome party, although simple at face value, was successful in its execution. It helped bring fans closer to each other and to key members of their favorite team, fostering community and raising spirits ahead of the PWHL’s third season. It was a solid example of how teams can build excitement and investment among their fanbases, a crucial endeavor as the PWHL continues to grow.
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