Checking in on the PWHL Rookie of the Year race

A rookie in the PWHL is classified as a player who is competing in their first season of professional hockey in North America and who began the season in their 25th birth year or younger. The annual Rookie of the Year award is presented “to the player who showcases the most outstanding ability throughout their first regular season of professional play.”

Previous winners include New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier and Minnesota Frost forward Grace Zumwinkle. Fillier tied for the league lead with 29 points in 30 games in her rookie season. The year prior, Zumwinkle notched 19 points in 24 games.

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Top five players to watch in the Rookie of the Year race

Kristýna Kaltounková

The New York Sirens forward was the first-overall selection in the 2025 PWHL Draft for a reason. Kaltounková leads all rookies in scoring and is tied for second in the league with eight goals. She recently notched her first assist, giving her nine points in 14 games this season. As of writing, she’s recorded a point in five of the last six games and has accounted for 25% of her team’s goals this season. She also doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game, with 22 hits and 29 penalty minutes, and leads all rookies with 53 shots on goal.

Casey O’Brien

Another New York Sirens forward? You bet! O’Brien was a highly-touted prospect ahead of last summer’s draft and she, like her teammate, has wasted no time proving her value. Although she took a little bit to really get into the swing of the pro league, she’s been on a tear lately, with seven points in her last seven games, including a hat trick. Her nine points on the season are tied with Kaltounková for the rookie lead in points. She’s also been dominant in the faceoff dot, winning 56.5% of draws.

Haley Winn

We’ve got to give our defenders some love, too. Winn, of the Boston Fleet, has six assists and seven points this season in 13 games. Half of her assists have come on the power play. She also has 18 blocked shots, among the most for rookies this season. She also leads all players — not just rookies — in the PWHL in total ice time and average time on ice per game, playing 27:46. She’s stepped right into the pro game and made it her own.

Rory Guilday

Like Winn, Guilday has also shown no hesitation stepping up to the pro level. In 14 games this season, she’s put up a goal and six assists, half of which came on the advantage. She’s not as much of a shooter, with only 18 shots, but undoubtedly a fantastic playmaker. She leads rookies with 19 blocked shots and leads all defenders, and rookies, with 22 hits. Winn is third among rookies in average TOI (21:08).

Hannah Murphy

It’s always hard to pit goalies against skaters, but Hannah Murphy has been a strong candidate for the Seattle Torrent. She’s appeared in five games so far this season and has a 3-2-0 record with a 2.61 GAA and .925 save percentage. Her numbers are a bit deflated due to a couple rough games in her last two outings, but she still made 37 and 39 saves, respectively. She also recorded the first assist of her pro career, which is a nice bonus.

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More from around women’s hockey

What’s the biggest issue in women’s hockey today? PWHL players talk salary, schedules, more (Hailey Salvian — The Athletic)

2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship review (Geremy — The Ice Garden)

Goldeneyes fans give GM “goosebumps every single day” (Steve Ewen — The Province)

The HCA National Women’s Goalie of the Year Award Watch List is out (Giselle Velazquez — The Ice Garden)

Elaine Chuli reflects on nine seasons of pro women’s hockey (Melissa Burgess — The Ice Garden)

IIHF signals Russia could be allowed to return to U-18 hockey events in 2028 (Chris Johnston — The Athletic)