Alex Carpenter delivered the goods in her first year in the PWHL, leading the recently renamed New York Sirens in scoring and finishing tied for second in league scoring overall.
The season, however, was not a success as Carpenter’s Sirens were one of two teams not to make the playoffs.
Carpenter has some definite ideas about why that happened and plenty of optimism that it can turn around under new head coach Greg Fargo in the Sirens new home at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
The following is from an interview conducted last week.
Q: What is the best thing about the PWHL?
A: Definitely just having that team environment and a place to play and continue your career after college. It’s something we have been lacking and it’s great to be able to have girls come out of college and have a profession they can pursue.
Q: There was no PWHL when you finished at Boston College and you eventually wound up playing in the Russian women’s hockey league. How beneficial was that for you?
A: I think it worked out personally. I just like having that consistency and that schedule and knowing that in the fall your season will begin and in the spring you are having playoffs. For me having that inconsistent training schedule, I don’t think that was beneficial for myself and just took it upon myself to find a full season.
Q Was that a sacrifice on your part or something you really wanted to do?
A: A little of both. It was definitely something I wanted to do and enjoyed, but at the same time being away from family and friends and North America in general was tough and then having to adapt to that lifestyle … but definitely would not change it for the world.
Q: What is the most important quality in a teammate and why?
A: I think honesty and accountability is such an important piece to it. Having a teammate being able to tell you when you should have made a pass or what you could have done better, I just think that helps the team grow.
Q: There’s not a lot of celebrating by you when you score. What is Alex Carpenter’s opinion on goal celebrations?
A: I think anybody is free to do what they want. I know some people go hard with those. Personally, I just honestly forget or I’m just more excited to drop the puck again and keep going.
Q: What is the biggest reason for optimism for the Sirens in 2025?
A: We do have a lot of talent and a lot of good players on our team. I think just finding a system that can exploit that and I think we will be really good going into Year 2.
Q: If you had to put your finger on one thing that kept New York from being a playoff team, what would that be?
A: I think for me it was our systems. We kind of didn’t either understand them or have them in place and I think if we were all on the same page and playing the same style of hockey, I think we would have fared a lot better.
Q: What is your ideal length for a pre-game nap?
A: I don’t pre-game nap. This is my only job so I’m able to get to bed at a reasonable hour, able to get my recovery in at other times.
Q: How old were you when you knew you would make hockey your career?
A: I would like to say when I first started playing. I obviously watched my dad play and knew that was what I wanted to do. Whether it was overseas or in one of the leagues here, I just kind of always knew and then as I got older and more leagues started popping up, the first thing I wanted to do was play in that new league.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you got from your father (Alex’s father Bobby Carpenter played 19 seasons in the NHL and is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame).
A: I think the best piece of advice I got from my dad was if you are good enough, they will find you. I kind of took a less traditional route playing at The Governor’s Academy with nine girls on the team, kind of up in the middle of nowhere Massachusetts. A lot of girls would play for big powerhouse teams and big schools and things like that, but he just told me if you just do the work, no matter where you are, they will find you.
Q: What is on your vacation bucket list?
A: I think it would be Mykonos, Greece, or Fiji. We’re always playing in the cold. Just love getting to warmer places.
Q: You have played in a ton of those super-competitive Canada/U.S. international games. What is the one word you would use to describe that rivalry?
A: Personally, I would just say ‘fun.’ I think it’s so much fun to be able to play at that level of hockey and have that intense relationship with them.
Q: What sport would you be playing today if you weren’t playing hockey?
A: Softball or baseball. As I got older and into high school, I kind of switched over the softball. That was my second sport all through high school. I played a little of everything — shortstop, first, catcher, but never a pitcher.
Q: Best live sporting event you have witnessed?
A: Probably the World Cup of Hockey when it was up in Toronto (2016). My dad was up there and he had me come up. It was pretty cool to see that level of competition.
Q: You can pick any two players in the world (not already on your Sirens team) to play with. Who do you want as linemates?
A: The one person I have never played with is Marie-Philip Poulin. I would love to play with her. And I’ve got to go with Hilary Knight as the other. I have played with her quite a bit on and off (with the U.S. national team) and we just click really well.
Q: The biggest lesson you took from Year 1 of the PWHL?
A: I think one thing is how competitive it is. Every game, especially in our short season, matters significantly. With the three-point tiering in the standings, things can change pretty quickly so just to be prepared for every game.
Q: What is your pre-game meal of choice?
A: Usually there is pasta and chicken around. Nothing too crazy. I’m not really superstitious (about my food). I’ll eat whatever is there.
Q: Five years from now are you still playing, maybe getting into coaching or doing something outside of hockey?
A: I hope still playing. Probably be towards the end of my career there, but would love to get into hockey after my playing career in some capacity.
Q: What is the one thing this league allows you to do or does for you that makes you the happiest?
A: I think just having things prepared for us at the rink. Not having to carry your own bags and not having to deal with those things on a bus or in an airport. You just show up to the rink and do your job. That’s what we are paid to do — show up and play and practice.
Q: If they asked you where you thought the league should expand, what would you say?
A: I know I thought Pittsburgh was going to get a team. That would be cool. But Pittsburgh and Detroit are two places. West coast would also be pretty cool, but I’m not sure how soon that will happen.
Q: What would you like to see the PWHL do different than they did in Year 1?
A: Nothing really in particular. Just kind of dialling in a few things. Really getting good at the specific things like travel and meals and things like that. Just lock those things in, but nothing big jumps out.