Q and A: Rookie Haley Winn impacting Fleet while learning from ‘best D in the world’

According to Haley Winn, the Boston Fleet have certainly overcome the “underdog” label many placed on them back in November.

After securing an early league lead, Boston has dominated the PWHL this season. Though they’ve recently moved to second place and now sit two points back of a Montreal Victoire team on a six-game heater, the Fleet have three games in hand. Kicking off the second half with a 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Charge in its first game back from the Olympics, Boston is still a powerful contender, one looking to climb back to the top of the standings on Thursday with a win against the New York Sirens (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).

A big part of Boston’s success this season is Winn. The rookie defender, who was picked second overall in the 2025 draft, led the league in time on ice heading into the Olympic break and has eight points in her last 12 games.

Winn has found herself at the very top of women’s hockey in her first professional season. In addition to her PWHL debut, she also competed in her first Olympics last month and took home a gold medal while playing on America’s top defensive line next to tournament scoring leader Caroline Harvey.

As Winn explains, her first few months in the PWHL have focused on toppling assumptions about what the Fleet would accomplish this season, learning tips and tricks from “the best D in the world,” and trying to anticipate the next viral stunt her three super-fan brothers might pull off.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

SPORTSNET: How’s your rookie season going? How have you found it adjusting to this league?

HALEY WINN: It's so fast and so physical. I think that was the biggest adjustment, just, you know, being ready to take a hit and remembering that you can actually give hits a little bit. But we have such a great group in Boston, so I think I've been very fortunate to have a lot of people guide me and take me under their wing as I make the adjustment.

After recording your first points in your fourth game, you haven't gone more than a game without scoring. What is it like to have that impact so early in your career?

I mean, obviously, being D-partners with Megan Keller, it's pretty easy and comfortable to be able to take some chances and be comfortable on the ice. And then you have (goalie) Aerin Frankel behind you, and just so many great players on the ice. I've been able to be comfortable and confident with my play, knowing that I have so much backup and my teammates also have a lot of trust and confidence in me — as I do in them.

And as a result, the Fleet have really grabbed a hold of the standings.

Going into the year, we were kind of underdogs, and we knew we had something to prove. We’re happy with where we're at, but we know we have a lot more to prove. But we have so much confidence and trust in our locker room.

You mentioned Keller already. What have you learned from playing alongside her this season?

She’s the best D in the world, I would say. There's just so much you can learn from her, day in and day out. Not only does she obviously provide offensively for the team, but I think her defensive play is so underrated. Nobody's ever getting by her. Her little details, her little stick details, she'll block a shot for the team. I think her selfless play and the way she carries herself are two things that I've really gained from her.

To go from playing with her all season to seeing her get the winning goal at the Olympics, take us through what was going through your head in that moment when she scored in overtime.

I just remember her posting up at the far blue line. I think Canada kind of made a quick change and she saw the opportunity to go, so she did it. And I mean, she was on a 1-on-1 and she'll describe it, she was just playing hockey, but it's hard to put into words. She had a little toe drag move and then buried it. And the first thing I saw was just the ref signalling the goal. I didn't even see the puck cross the goal line. I couldn't get off the bench fast enough to go celebrate with her, that's for sure.

Did you watch her on SNL?

Yeah, I did (laughs). She carries herself like such a professional and she's obviously had a lot of media to do, and she's been crushing it and not letting it affect her time at the rink. And she crushed it. She might have a career in acting, our coach says. Hopefully we can keep her on the ice.

What was your first Olympics like?

I still kind of have to remind myself that that even happened. It was such a surreal experience. And every morning I would wake up in the Olympic Village and have to remind myself where I was because it was so special being there with all the athletes.

And what was it like having all three of your brothers there? They went pretty viral.

To have my family in the stands, it makes it all more special. Obviously, I wouldn't be there without them. It's been my dream for so long that it kind of turned into their dream. It made it all worth it, seeing them having their little spotlight was awesome. I can't say enough good things.

Did you know they’d be showing up in matching outfits and making videos?

I had a little inkling because they did a video in New York when we had worlds there. But I didn't know the full extent of what was going to happen, I didn't know what their outfits were going to look like. So, that was a little bit of a surprise, but a pleasant surprise for sure.

Which costume was your favourite?

(Laughs.) I think everyone liked the eagle heads. I’m curious what they’re going to do now at Fleet games.

Even as their videos went viral, they kept pointing the attention back to women’s hockey. What is it like seeing them elevate the game like that?

I think their main job, obviously, was supporting me and Team USA. And they did so much more than that, which is so special. I have so many comments and stuff on my social media of people saying, ‘I came here from your brothers.’ And I think, honestly, women's hockey gained a lot of new followers because of them. So, it's just incredible to see what they did, honestly not even on purpose, but just the people they are and the supporters they are.

In one of your old yearbooks, underneath the photo of you, there’s a note that it’s your dream to become a hockey Olympian. Can you talk about accomplishing that dream and how it morphed over the years?

One of my friends from middle school actually sent me that photo when I was at the Olympics. That was so crazy to see. It has been my dream since I learned how to skate. At the time, there wasn't a (professional) women's league to look forward to, so that's all I knew, and that's all I could see and look up to. So, to be able to continue to follow that dream and achieve it is so special. And not only do that but continue playing hockey afterwards in a professional league is just so cool. And like I said, this dream wouldn't have been possible without all my brothers and my parents. They just made it all worth it.