Elle Hartje

Elle Hartje was just two-years-old when she strapped on her first pair of ice skates; today she is a forward for the New York Sirens in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. 

“As a kid, I was always, always on the go,” she said. “I grew up in a family with four kids and we played every sport you can think of. You name it, we did it.” 

At just three-years-old, Hartje joined her first hockey league. She spent much of her childhood at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills.

“Detroit Skating Club was like my home. That’s where I grew up skating. It’s a special place to me.”  

Hartje attended Detroit Country Day School and played travel soccer throughout her school career.

“I played on an all-boys team,” she said. “I was the only girl. For me, it was a great experience, but it was not without challenges. One of the hardest things was not being in the locker room. One of the best parts of being on the team is the camaraderie in the locker room. But it was great and I still speak to some of my teammates today. I played with the boys until I was 15-years-old. Then, I switched over to play with the girls.”

In 2019, Hartje was nominated for Michigan High School Athlete of the Year. 

“I was really honored to be considered for that,” she said. “I put a lot of work into my sport. You sacrifice a lot to compete at that level. It made me feel like the sacrifices were worth it.”

Hartje was also named High School Athlete of the Year by The Jewish News and the Michigan Jewish Foundation. 

“My Jewish heritage is really important to me,” she said. “My grandparents are Holocaust survivors, so being recognized by The Jewish News was really cool because I could share that with my grandparents.” 

Hartje went on to study political science at Yale University.

“Academics were always as important to me as athletics,” she said. “My parents went to Harvard and I come from a big Harvard family. But, I just loved Yale from the moment I visited.”

Hartje served as captain of Yale’s hockey team. She expertly juggled academics and sports. 

“I think that high school prepared me really well,” she said.

For the 2021-22 season, Hartje broke Yale's record for most assists in a season. 

“The pursuit of breaking the record was really fun,” she said. “It made me push for personal excellence.”

In 2023, Hartje was named Ivy League Player of the Year. 

“That was really awesome,” she said. “It was so special to me. It’s important to set your goals high. I wanted to be the best player I could be.”  

Hartje also went on to earn All-Ivy and All-ECAC honors and she broke Yale’s all-time scoring record. 

“I took pride in helping that team,” she said. “I was chasing personal goals and chasing personal success.” 

In 2024, Hartje began playing for the New York Sirens. 

“That was very exciting,” she said. “I love being on the team.”

In her spare time, Hartje organized volunteer work at the Yale Community Kitchen. 

“I felt like our team had a big impact on the community. I’ve found community service to be very important. I think we have a responsibility with this platform,” she said. 

Additionally, Hartje is an ambassador with the Hockey in New Jersey program. The program provides free hockey to underprivileged children. 

“There’s free coaching, free ice and free equipment. Hockey is an expensive sport. I feel lucky that I was fortunate enough to play hockey. I want anyone who wants that opportunity to have it.” 

Elle is very grateful for her parents who have encouraged her career. 

“My dad played professional hockey, and my mom played collegiate tennis,” she said. “They always supported my athletic dreams.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: PWHL/New York Sirens