HAMILTON — Nine former Raiders have secured spots in all six Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) teams ahead of the league's second season set to open this weekend. Seven Colgate alumnae will kick off their first season of professional hockey this year, while two Class of 2019 grads return for their second season in the big leagues. 

"At Colgate women's hockey, our environment is built on a foundation of player development where athletes are empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential," Colgate Head Women's Hockey Coach Stefan Decosse said. "Seeing eight of our alumnae on PWHL opening night rosters is a testament to the commitment they made to their growth and the culture of excellence within our program. At Colgate, we strive to create a culture where athletes can grow, excel, and prepare for opportunities at the highest levels. Their journey from Hamilton to the PWHL embodies the dedication and development that defines Colgate women's hockey, serving as both a source of pride for our program and an inspiration for the next generation of Raiders."

Continue reading below for more information about the next wave of Pro Raiders. 

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Sydney Bard ('23) - Boston Fleet
One of three Raiders making her first PWHL roster, Bard will wear the Boston green on defense in her professional hockey debut. The former three-time ECAC All-League honoree finished her Colgate career with 13 goals and 99 assists. She skated on the Fleet's second defensive pairing in both preseason contests, adding three shots and an assist across both games.

Danielle Serdachny ('23) - Ottawa Charge
Serdachny signed a three-year contract with the Ottawa Charge after being drafted as the No. 2 overall pick. She was the first Raider in program history to reach 200 career points, and scored the game-winning goal for Canada at the 2024 IIHF Women's Worlds. During training camp with the Charge, Serdachny served as the second-line center tallying a goal and an assist across both contests.
 

Ladies and gentlemen, ?her?Danielle Serdachny has our lone goal in the opening frame, as we head to the second trailing the Victoire 2-1. pic.twitter.com/1vrLBT9o7k

— Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) November 22, 2024

Dara Greig ('24) - Montreal Victoire
Grieg makes her first PWHL roster after finishing her collegiate career with 62 goals and 70 assists with Colgate and Wisconsin. She was a member of the 2024 ECAC All-Tournament team, and was drafted No. 23 overall by the Victoire during the 2024 PWHL draft. She played in both preseason games as a third and fourth line winger, accumulating four shots and two hits through both outings.

Kayle Osborne ('24) - New York Sirens
The 2024 ECAC Tournament MVP makes her professional debut with the New York Sirens, playing for former Colgate head coach Greg Fargo. Osborne recorded a .927 save percentage between the pipes in 92 games for the Raiders, and was selected as the No. 28 overall pick before signing a three-year contract with the Sirens in August. She played 30 scoreless minutes in the Sirens' 5-2 preseason victory against the Toronto Sceptres, stopping all 16 shots faced.

Allyson Simpson ('23) - New York Sirens
Fresh off an appearance with Team USA in the 2024 Rivalry Series, Simpson is one of four Raiders to play for the Sirens this season. Simpson was drafted No. 16 overall in the 2024 draft, and logged one shot in New York's 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota in the preseason.

Noemi Neubauerova ('22)  - Toronto Sceptres 
Neubauerova began the year playing with EV Zug in Switzerland's PostFinance Women's League, finishing with four goals and four assists in nine games before being drafted No. 30 overall by the Sceptres. Neubauerova spent both exhibition contests as a winger on Toronto's third line, adding two shots, five hits and a shootout goal against the New York Sirens on Nov. 22.

Neubauerova was also named to the Czechia National Team for the Six Nations Euro Hockey Tour in December alongside current Colgate fifth-year Kristýna Kaltounková. 
 

Goal frames ?? pic.twitter.com/2cvmCpIkgB

— Toronto Sceptres (@PWHL_Toronto) November 23, 2024

Jesse Eldridge ('19) - New York Sirens
Eldridge is heading into her second year in the PWHL, scoring seven goals and seven assists in 24 games played in the inaugural 2023-24 season. She started the opening preseason game for the Sirens adding two shots from the first line. The third all-time scoring leader at Colgate was also part of the PWHLPA for two seasons, winning the Secret Cup in 2022-23.

Kaitlyn O'Donohoe ('23) - Minnesota Frost
O'Donohoe earned a spot as a reserve on the roster of the defending Walter Cup Champions Minnesota Frost. She played in both preseason games for the Frost logging one shot, and spent the previous five months in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SWHL) with Brynas IF. In 14 SWHL contests , O'Donohoe scored seven points on two goals and five assists after ending her Colgate career with 126 tallies. 

Olivia Zafuto ('19) - Boston Fleet 
Zafuto will serve as a reserve for the Boston Fleet after being drafted No. 69 overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft. Zafuto played in 13 games for the New York Sirens last year adding a goal, an assist, and seven shots. During her time at Colgate, Zafuto set the record for most points by a defender in program history. She recorded 33 goals and 71 assists for 104 points in her four years as a Raider. She also played in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) prior to Colgate, where she was drafted No. 18 by the Buffalo Beauts. 

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The PWHL season begins this Saturday, Nov. 30, when Bard, Zafuto and the Boston Fleet face Neubauerova and the Toronto Sceptres at 2 p.m. EST in Coca-Cola Coliseum. The game will be available on NESN and Youtube in the United States, and live stats can be accessed here.