Casey O'Brien had homecoming dream fulfilled as Sirens' draft pick
Sitting with her family at Tuesday's PWHL Draft in Ottawa, Ontario, Casey O'Brien was talking through her most likely landing spots — Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa — when she learned the Sirens had traded up for the third pick.
'Oh, my god,' she thought to herself. 'Wait, am I going to New York?'
O'Brien knew there was a good chance. And when the Sirens confirmed her suspicions by picking her a few moments later, she felt a mix of 'shock and excitement.'
Advertisement
Casey O'Brien was drafted by the Sirens.
NCAA Photos via Getty Images
'I think I blacked out,' O'Brien told reporters Wednesday, overlooking the city from the observation deck atop Rockefeller Center. 'We were kind of just sitting there, trying to stay calm, not be too nervous, and then the trade happens.'
Moments after selecting Czech forward Kristyna Kaltounkova first overall, the Sirens traded forward Ella Shelton to Toronto for the Nos. 3 and 27 picks, setting the stage for O'Brien's selection.
The 5-foot-4 forward out of Wisconsin said she had 'great conversations' with Sirens management ahead of the draft, but she had no idea New York would trade up for her.
Advertisement
It was the result she secretly had hoped for all along, because she grew up in SoHo and learned to play hockey at the Chelsea Piers sports complex, which she called 'the rink that built me.'
O'Brien would take constant trips to Chelsea Piers, even before she learned to skate, because her older brothers, Jack and Max, played hockey there, and her dad, James, coached the house league team.
'I always wanted to do what they were doing, so they let me hop on the ice with them, and I immediately fell in love with the game,' she said.
Advertisement
She eventually shipped off to Minnesota prep powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary's in 2017, where she posted 211 points in 122 games over a three-season stretch.
Casey O'Brien played collegiately at Wisconsin.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
She continued to excel with Wisconsin, winning three national titles in five seasons and earning the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best collegiate player after a terrific senior season.
Now, after eight years of starring on winning teams, she'll look to help the Sirens develop a winning culture after two seasons at the bottom of the standings.
Advertisement
'We're not looking at the past at all. None of the players are. I don't think the management is either,' O'Brien said. 'We're coming in with a blank slate, and we're ready to get going together.'
The 23-year-old will get to do so with several teammates she knows, including Sarah Fillier, Anne Cherkowski and Makenna Webster, a longtime teammate O'Brien described as her 'best friend in the world.'
'I think most of these players I've at least shared the ice with at one point or another, and we're all familiar with each other,' O'Brien said. 'And so I think we're going to all have chemistry right away.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Casey O'Brien had homecoming dream fulfilled as Sirens' draft pick
Sitting with her family at Tuesday's PWHL Draft in Ottawa, Ontario, Casey O'Brien was talking through her most likely landing spots — Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa — when she learned the Sirens had traded up for the third pick. 'Oh, my god,' she thought to herself. 'Wait, am I going to New York?' O'Brien knew there was a good chance. And when the Sirens confirmed her suspicions by picking her a few moments later, she felt a mix of 'shock and excitement.' Advertisement Casey O'Brien was drafted by the Sirens. NCAA Photos via Getty Images 'I think I blacked out,' O'Brien told reporters Wednesday, overlooking the city from the observation deck atop Rockefeller Center. 'We were kind of just sitting there, trying to stay calm, not be too nervous, and then the trade happens.' Moments after selecting Czech forward Kristyna Kaltounkova first overall, the Sirens traded forward Ella Shelton to Toronto for the Nos. 3 and 27 picks, setting the stage for O'Brien's selection. The 5-foot-4 forward out of Wisconsin said she had 'great conversations' with Sirens management ahead of the draft, but she had no idea New York would trade up for her. Advertisement It was the result she secretly had hoped for all along, because she grew up in SoHo and learned to play hockey at the Chelsea Piers sports complex, which she called 'the rink that built me.' O'Brien would take constant trips to Chelsea Piers, even before she learned to skate, because her older brothers, Jack and Max, played hockey there, and her dad, James, coached the house league team. 'I always wanted to do what they were doing, so they let me hop on the ice with them, and I immediately fell in love with the game,' she said. Advertisement She eventually shipped off to Minnesota prep powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary's in 2017, where she posted 211 points in 122 games over a three-season stretch. Casey O'Brien played collegiately at Wisconsin. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images She continued to excel with Wisconsin, winning three national titles in five seasons and earning the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best collegiate player after a terrific senior season. Now, after eight years of starring on winning teams, she'll look to help the Sirens develop a winning culture after two seasons at the bottom of the standings. Advertisement 'We're not looking at the past at all. None of the players are. I don't think the management is either,' O'Brien said. 'We're coming in with a blank slate, and we're ready to get going together.' The 23-year-old will get to do so with several teammates she knows, including Sarah Fillier, Anne Cherkowski and Makenna Webster, a longtime teammate O'Brien described as her 'best friend in the world.' 'I think most of these players I've at least shared the ice with at one point or another, and we're all familiar with each other,' O'Brien said. 'And so I think we're going to all have chemistry right away.'
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
Matthew Schaefer's NHL dream is just waiting on the Islanders
LOS ANGELES — Nothing is final until it's final, and no one, least of all Matthew Schaefer, is acting otherwise. But let's put it this way: Through a media session that lasted nearly 17 minutes Thursday morning on a pool deck in downtown Los Angeles, Schaefer was asked double-digit questions about going No. 1 and playing for the Islanders. Advertisement The Sharks, who pick second, weren't mentioned. So you might say there's a widespread expectation for how things will play out at the Peacock Theater on Friday, the same way there's a widespread expectation this decentralized draft format will be one-and-done. 'It'll mean everything,' Schaefer said of how he expects to feel upon hearing his name called Friday. 'It's every kid's dream, especially mine. You work so hard up to this point and to hear it, it's obviously really cool, but the work just starts now.' Schaefer, a wiry 17-year-old defenseman standing 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, heads into the draft as the consensus top prospect, having edged out center Michael Misa through force of personality and a tour de force of an injury-shortened season. Advertisement Matthew Schaefer is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. NHLI via Getty Images Schaefer played just 17 games with the OHL's Erie Otters last season and two more with Team Canada at the World Juniors, where his season ended thanks to a broken clavicle. Doesn't matter. He spent those games dominating and spent his time off the ice showing qualities that make people think he'll be a future NHL captain, in particular standing up to immense adversity after his mother and billet mom died within two months of each other last year. Advertisement It has the league thinking he'll be the newest member of the Islanders by 7:20 or so Friday evening. 'Obviously, I wish she could be there. I think that's probably the biggest thing I'll be thinking about when I hear my name called,' Schaefer said. 'But I know she'll be smiling down. I know she's gonna be with me in spirit. I know my dad and brother will probably have some tears. I think I'm gonna have some tears. We'll see, though. I guess time will tell.' Schaefer, who's trained this offseason with former defenseman Mark Giordano as part of a group that includes Adam Pelech, confirmed he'll be a full participant at development camp for whichever team picks him. (If it's the Islanders, that would mean as soon as Monday). played just 17 games with the OHL's Erie Otters last season. Getty Images Advertisement Though he's never been to Long Island — he went to a Morgan Wallen concert in the city last year, but that's his only time in New York — Schaefer also said he knows Bo Horvat, as the two share an agent. 'It'd be awesome [to be his teammate],' Schaefer said. 'He's with my agency. He's been a great guy. I think I've heard so many things about him and he's a great leader. To have that guy in your corner would be amazing.' On the ice from Long Island Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters As a skater and puck mover, Schaefer already looks like an NHL player. As is normal for any draftee, he'll need to put on some muscle over the summer, but even though he won't turn 18 until September, it looks highly possible Schaefer will start next season in the NHL. He joked Thursday that whatever team picks him will be getting a 'great singer and dancer.' Then he got a little more serious. 'On the ice, a two-way defenseman that can play all over the ice,' he said. 'Power play, penalty kill, very competitive and loves to win. Off the ice, I love to talk, as you guys can tell. I'm a leader, but honestly, the fans mean a lot to me. If they want autographs or anything — I don't know why they'd want one but if they do — and pictures, I love taking the time 'cause they come out to support us so much.'
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Top Penn State Recruiting Targets Commit to Notre Dame
Top Penn State Recruiting Targets Commit to Notre Dame originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The college football recruiting scene has not been kind as of late to Penn State. In the past week the Nittany Lions lost two of their top recruiting targets. Class of 2026 players Khary Adams (four-star) and Joey O'Brien (four-star) both committed to play at Notre Dame. The two are both ranked in the ESPN top 200 recruits list for their class. O'Brien and Adams each had Penn State listed in their top choices, prior to their official commitment. Joey O'Brien O'Brien is listed as the No. 4 defensive back in the class of 2026 according to ESPN. He is listed at at 6'4" and weighs in at 185 LBS. His speed and wide range of motion got him on the Irish's radar, as well as Penn's. The Nittany Lions were looking to add some more safety depth, after losing starter Kevin Winston Jr., who got drafted 82nd overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement Winston was highly touted after his 2023-2024 sophomore season. In his junior season this past year, he went out week two last season with a torn ACL against Bowling Green. This opened the flood gates for someone new to make an impact. Sophomore A.J. Harris had no problem in doing that. He helped there be little to no fall off when Winston jr. went down. Penn State finished considered as a top-10 defense, and Harris' draft stock climbed. On a "way too early" mock draft ESPN's Jordan Reid had Harris landing in the first round, getting drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. With Harris being back in the safety stable this season, and Penn landing another highly praised player from the transfer portal in the same position, King Mack (Alabama). It leads to the question is this position really a vital need for Penn? They seem to think so, because they swung and missed on another top DB recruit in the class of 2026. Khary Adams Adams was ranked as the No. 68 overall prospect by ESPN, and the 8th ranked cornerback. On June 20 he made his commitment to Notre Dame official. With NIL playing a massive part in getting top tier talent, Penn State may be trending in the wrong direction. While the team who flatlined their chances of a national championship last year, seeming to be trending upwards. Advertisement On June 22 Offensive tackle, Grayson McKeough (four-star) commited to Notre Dame . He had Penn State among his final choices, but the top rated tackle, like O'Brien and Adams opted to play for the Fighting Irish. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
