New York Sirens activate Ella Shelton from long-term injured reserve
The New York Sirens are starting to get healthy again as they’re getting back one of their star players.
On Saturday, the team announced it has activated defender Ella Shelton off long-term injured reserve. The 27-year-old was placed on LTIR after suffering a lower-body injury in the team’s first game of the season, an overtime win over the Minnesota Frost on Dec. 1. Shelton posted an assist in the victory.
In response, the Sirens released fellow blueliner Taylor Baker from her standard player agreement.
Shelton is scheduled to make her return in the Sirens’ game against the Frost on Sunday.
For a New York team that was riddled with injuries to begin the 2024-25 season, they’re starting to get all hands on deck. Earlier this week, they activated Jill Saulnier, who’d also been out of the lineup since game one, off LTIR. Getting Shelton back in the lineup will certainly help bolster their back end, which has looked shaky at times, despite the team hanging around the playoff picture as the calendar flips over to 2025.
Shelton is unquestionably one of the best blueliners in the game. A mainstay on the Canadian National Team, the Ingersoll, Ontario native is an exceptional player at both ends of the rink. Her offensive gifts resulted in her leading all PWHL defenders in goals (7) and points (21) during the inaugural season, making her a candidate for Defender of the Year.
Baker was originally on the main roster to start the league’s second season. The Toronto native appeared in 22 games with New York last season and appeared in three games so far this season, including playing over 27 minutes in her last contest against the Toronto Sceptres on Dec. 18. In 25 appearances, she has a plus/minus of -2 and has yet to register a point.
The Sirens (2-1-1-2) sit fourth in the league, four points behind the Frost (3-2-1-1).