Pro Hockey Players Visit West Orange School For Women’s History Month

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Gold Medal victory of the Women’s Hockey Team at this year’s Olympics has added to the popularity of women in sports, and so have the New York Sirens, a premier women’s hockey team formed in 2023 as part of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). On March 9, several members of the team visited Redwood Elementary School to celebrate Women’s History Month and interact with students.

Redwood physical education teacher Franco Cozzolino, a co-founder and Owner/Director of Pyramid Youth & Adult Fitness and Wellness Center of West Orange, built a relationship with the Sirens, who train at his facility. The team who first visited Redwood last year, are currently in 4^th place in the league with 8 wins, 3 overtime/shootout wins, 3 overtime/shootout losses, and 9 losses (8–0–3–9) in 19 games. The Sirens have also visited Washington and Mt. Pleasant Elementary Schools.

Team Captain Micah Zandee-Hart, who played for the Canadian Women’s Hockey team at the 2022 Olympics and won gold, talked to students about the team and their passion for hockey. Maja Nylen Persson, who played in the recent 2026 games for Sweden, was cheered by students. Their season runs from November – May, and in a highlight of their year, they will play the Seattle Torrent in a sold-out game at Madison Square Garden on April 4.

Following a question-and-answer period, the Sirens played a “shoot the puck” game with students featuring a hockey stick and ball, with prizes awarded to all participants.

“The New York Sirens players, coaches, and staff are powerful role models for young girls here in West Orange and neighboring communities by engaging directly through school visits and clinics,” noted Cozzolino.

“Through their hard work and dedication, women's sports are growing and building a legacy for future female athletes,” he concluded.

• #28 - Captain Micah Zandee-Hart (Defender)
• #16 - Lauren Bernard (Defender)
• #39 - Kayley Doyle (Goalie)
• # 9 - Olivia Knowles (Defender)
• #29 - Emmy Fecteau (Forward)
• #81 - Kayla Vespa (Forward)
• #8 - Maja Nylen Persson (Defender)
• #71 - Jincy Roese (Defender)
• #37 - Callie Shanahan (Goalie)

Assistant Coach Valerie Bois, Equipment Manager Olivia Bolsar, and Media and Community Relations Coordinator Hannah Beckman also attended with the team.

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