Emma Peschel, the seventh overall selection in the 2026 Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Draft, expressed her enthusiasm for joining the New York Sirens and immersing herself in the city's vibrant atmosphere. Peschel, who described herself as a "city girl at heart," was officially introduced by the Sirens at the Empire State Building on Tuesday.
"I've always liked to be around that environment. Being in the biggest city in the world, in your 20s, I don't think there's much better," Peschel said. "So that was the most exciting part. Obviously, joining the Sirens is huge, but living in New York is going to be so fun ... getting to take in all the cuisine, and the adventures, and the parks, and everything that comes with it."
Peschel arrives in New York after a four-year tenure at Ohio State, where she was part of the 2024 national championship team. She noted that her time in college taught her valuable lessons in "discipline and development."
She joins a rapidly expanding league and a significant market, believing it's an opportune moment to enter the PWHL. "I think it's one of the best times to join in the history of the league," Peschel stated. "Obviously, it's only been four years and we're from six to 12 teams, so it's a really cool jump to see. I think the growth will continue in seeing the draft class that's come in. We have a lot of talent, and I think we'll make a pretty big impact in the league right away."
Sirens General Manager Pascal Daoust lauded Peschel, whom the team selected over U.S. Olympian Kirsten Simms. Daoust highlighted Peschel's physicality, skating ability, and decision-making on the ice, emphasizing her leadership potential. "She is someone who, of course, has a physicality that she has, but she skates well, she plays well. She makes decisions on the ice that won't just make her look good ... it's a lot of leadership that is coming our way," Daoust said. He added that Peschel has the potential to become a No. 1 defenseman in the league.
The New York Sirens are aiming for improvement after finishing seventh out of eight teams last season. With the addition of four expansion teams, the league's competition intensifies. Daoust expressed confidence in the returning players and new acquisitions. "Last year, we shouldn't have finished where we finished, you know? I'd like to remind people that last year, we finished first in expected goals. We finished first in Grade A scoring chances. Still, we couldn't put the puck in," he remarked. "We have a lot of players coming in, but we have a lot of players that are coming back, so they know how they are coached, they know how to train. We're excited."
Peschel's arrival is anticipated to generate excitement at the Prudential Center for the upcoming season.