The PWHL reduced Taylor Girard’s record four-game suspension to three games on Wednesday after reviewing footage of the incident that led to her discipline.
Girard’s suspension for illegally leaving the bench remains the longest in league history, but she is now eligible to return for the New York Sirens’ Feb. 26 home game against the Montreal Victoire, when the season resumes following a monthlong Olympic break.
Girard was automatically suspended for four games on Jan. 19 under Rule 72.10, which penalizes the first player to leave the bench during an altercation. The 27-year-old forward charged into a skirmish and pushed opposing defender Maggie Flaherty to the ice after time expired in the Sirens’ 2-1 victory over the Victoire in Washington, D.C., the site of a PWHL Takeover Tour game.
Jayna Hefford, the league’s executive vice president of hockey operations, heard Girard’s appeal and consulted video replays before deciding the reduction to three games was appropriate.
Girard received a pair of misconducts on the ice for a total of 30 penalty minutes — enough to lead the league when the suspension was imposed. She missed ensuing losses to the Ottawa Charge and Minnesota Frost and remained out Wednesday night when New York visited the Boston Fleet.
The Sirens sat fourth in the eight-team league standings entering play Wednesday with 23 points in 15 games.
Girard’s five goals and six points this season are career highs. Boston traded her to New York in January 2025 in exchange for forward Jill Saulnier.
–Field Level Media
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