Namita Nayyar:
Your freshman year at Cornell, you led the NCAA in shorthanded goals with five. Forwards are usually taught to be cautious when killing a penalty, but you seemed to turn it into an offensive weapon. What is the mindset required to be that aggressive and successful shorthanded?
Kristin O’Neill:
I absolutely love killing penalties. What started as a secret weapon has become why I am known for. I think it really stemmed from me just embracing this asset. A lot of people think of the penalty kill as a negative, but I thrive in these moments, and I think that’s what make it my ‘thing’
Namita Nayyar:
You finished your collegiate career as Cornell’s all-time leader in game-winning goals (21) and shorthanded goals (10). Is there a specific goal from those four years that stands out as your most memorable, and why?
Kristin O’Neill:
I honestly can’t think of a specific goal of my college career that stands out to me. Anytime I got to play in-front of the incredible fans at Lynah rink was truly a memory I’ll never forget!
Namita Nayyar:
You served as team captain for three years at Cornell and were a three-time nominee for the Patty Kazmaier Award. How did wearing the “C” for that long shape your understanding of what it takes to unite a locker room and lead by example?
Kristin O’Neill:
I was lucky enough to lead with fellow members of the class of 2020. Co-captain, Micah Zandee- Hart and I lead with different qualities which was really helpful. We always had the support of the rest of our class and felt like a very united front. As for uniting a while team, I think it’s important that everyone is coming from a differ place with different experiences.
Meeting people where they are at is important. So is holding people accountable to standards, we expected a lot, but it became normal to exceed these standards and show how much you care by putting the work in.
Namita Nayyar:
You were drafted 7th overall by PWHL Montreal in the inaugural 2023 draft. What was that experience like, being one of the foundational players for a new franchise in a historic league?
Kristin O’Neill:
It was a very special moment in my career. Not only was it a monumental moment for women’s hockey but it was a moment for me will be ingrained in my mind forever. A moment I will tell my grandchildren about.
Namita Nayyar:
During the 2024-25 seasons, you were traded to the New York Sirens in a move that sent Abby Roque the other way. What was that transition like, moving to a new city and a new locker room, and how have you embraced your role with the Sirens?
Kristin O’Neill:
At first, it was a very emotional change. I was forced to leave a lot of good friends, and a city and team that I grew to absolutely love. But with that, came change that I loved more than I ever anticipated. I have embraced my role as a more experienced player on the sirens and work hard every day to a positive, detailed leader people can look up to.
Namita Nayyar:
You were named a player to watch following the Olympics for your “speed, reliability on faceoffs and aggressive fore checking”. How much of your game-day preparation is dedicated to faceoffs, and what is your personal strategy for winning a crucial draw?
Kristin O’Neill:
Not too much of my preparation is focused on face-offs. But if I am going into a game against a team or a center that I haven’t had success in the past with I will study how they go about taking face-offs to best prepare myself.
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