PWHL Player Safety Committee Disciplines Taylor Girard: January 19, 2026
New York's Taylor Girard has been suspended for four games by the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) following a heated incident. The incident occurred at the end of Sunday's game against the Montréal Victoire, where Girard left the players' bench to join a scuffle on the ice.
The PWHL Player Safety Committee, led by Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, and including Vice Chair Chris Burkett, PWHL Vice President of Labour Relations and Player Safety, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Special Advisor, Meghan Duggan, Special Consultant to PWHL Hockey Operations, and Mike Murphy, a former NHL executive, reviewed the incident under Rule 72.10 of the PWHL Rulebook. This rule states that the first player to leave the bench illegally during an altercation or to start a fight will be suspended for the next four regular season games.
Girard will be able to return to the ice on Thursday, March 5, 2026, marking a significant moment in the league's commitment to player safety and fair play. This decision highlights the PWHL's zero-tolerance policy towards unsportsmanlike conduct, sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.
