Minnesota Frost repeat as PWHL champions
Minnesota Frost fans in for some big fun at the X for Game 3
The Minnesota Frost beat the Ottawa Charge in Game 2 of the PWHL championships on the road Thursday, and now they get to come home for Game 3 at the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday.
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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who was the biggest surprise omission for each PWHL team from their expansion protection list?
The PWHL unveiled the three players protected from each of the league's six inaugural teams. Three was a small number resulting in top players from every roster being exposed, and signalling that PWHL Seattle and PWHL Vancouver will almost certainly enter the 2025-26 PWHL season as the teams to beat. While the PWHL has yet to unveil if there will be changes to their playoff format with eight teams now in the league, it's highly likely Seattle and Vancouver will be playing playoff hockey next season, while the existing rosters will take a season or two to recover from the deep cuts the league decided to make to their cores. PWHL fans across the league reacted negatively to the lack of protection for the players they've grown to love, including the exposure of 40 of the 42 players selected in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Advertisement As baffling as the PWHL's plan for expansion was, seeing the exposed players which includes finalists for league MVP, Defender of the Year, Forward of the Year, and Rookie of the Year, including the 2024 PWHL Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, three First Team All-Stars, three Second Team All-Stars, and four of five members of the All-Rookie team. In essence, Seattle and Vancouver are picking all-star rosters without reservation. There were some exposures that surprised more than others. Here's a look at the most shocking omissions from each PWHL team's protected list. Boston Fleet - Hilary Knight Knight is a finalist for the PWHL's MVP award this season and top forward. She tied for the league lead in scoring and was the captain of the Boston Fleet, and remains the captain of Team USA. She's a first ballot Hall of Famer who holds every scoring record at the World Championships. Hilary Knight however, is nearing the end of her storied career, although no one is questioning if she can remain a star in the PWHL for a few more seasons. She would be the ultimate face for the game in Seattle to help the league hit the ground running on the west coast, but it doesn't soften the shock and dismay Boston fans feel having one of the legends of the game potentially stolen from their roster. Minnesota Frost - Sophie Jaques Minnesota made a trade for Sophie Jaques during season one and it paid dividends. She tied for the PWHL lead in scoring by a defender, helped the Frost win back-to-back Walter Cup titles, and has seen her role grow. She's only getting better and is a finalist for the PWHL's Defender of the Year. Few are as dangerous off the rush and jumping into the play as Jaques, and she'll bring her ever improving game to the west coach and make a significant impact there as well. She flourish in Minnesota, and alongside Claire Thompson, the loss of two elite defenders is going to sting. Minnesota will pray that Nicole Gosling or Rory Guilday can be had in the PWHL Draft. Montreal Victoire - Erin Ambrose Montreal loves Erin Ambrose, and Erin Ambrose loves Montreal. She was the 2024 PWHL Defender of the Year, and remains one of the best in the league on and off the ice. Montreal rolled the dice exposing both Ambrose and rookie standout Cayla Barnes on their blueline. Their only hope is that Vancouver picks up Jennifer Gardiner. If the expansion teams pick Ambrose and Barnes, Montreal is going to significantly struggle, and the defensive depth available in free agency and the draft won't be able to recoup what they've lost if the worst case scenario happens. New York Sirens - Alex Carpenter A 2024 First Team All-Star and widely acknowledged as a top 10 forward in the world, Alex Carpenter is a game changer on the ice and was half of the PWHL's most dangerous duo alongside rookie sensation Sarah Fillier. Many New York fans couldn't wrap their head around this one, and in terms of on-ice performance, it's a hard pill to swallow. What this omission shows however, is that teams were looking far beyond the scoresheet when considering their options. New York needs a culture change, they need to shake up their roster to get more out of their depth, and this move plays into that decision. Carpenter's skill will be missed if she's selected. Ottawa Charge - Ashton Bell Without Ashton Bell, it's hard to imagine the Ottawa Charge get to the Walter Cup finals this year. Bell was part of Ottawa's top pairing that played heavy minutes. She blocked shots, transitioned pucks up ice, and was key to their attack. But Ottawa went with the unique toolkit possessed by Ronja Savolainen. Savolainen has a more club friendly contract with two years remaining, and there's belief she's just scratching the surface of her potential in North America. She got better as the season went on. Toronto Sceptres - Sarah Nurse A 2024 PWHL Second Team All-Star, Sarah Nurse was one of the top scoring threats in the league in year one, and if not for an injury in year two, the same could be said. Toronto is lucky to have the depth they do up front, but depending how this process plays out, the Sceptres are likely to lose not only Nurse, but three of Savannah Harmon, Julia Gosling, Emma Maltais, Allie Munroe, or Izzy Daniel as well. It's not a pleasant prospect for the team, but there's perhaps no loss that would hurt more than that of Nurse.
Boston Globe
6 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Expansion Seattle begins its roster with former Fleet captain Hilary Knight
The right wing tied for the league lead with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists), and in 2023-24, the PWHL's inaugural season, helped the Fleet to the Walter Cup Final. Vancouver, which will also enter the league next season, went defense first by landing the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost's blue line duo of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. Advertisement The Frost teammates were among the league's top-scoring defensemen. Thompson, Jaques and Toronto's Renata Fast were the finalists for the defender of the year honor, and the Minnesota pair represented Canada at the world championships in April. After having two players pulled from their roster, the Frost were allowed to protect an extra player, and they chose to keep forward Britta Curl-Salemme. In this initial five-day signing period, during which Seattle and Vancouver are allowed to add up to five players who were either left unprotected by their current teams or eligible to become unrestricted free agents. Both franchises will then take part in an expansion draft on Monday. After that, each team will have a dozen players. Then they will fill out their rosters during the PWHL draft on June 24 and during the league's free agency period. Advertisement
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
PWHL Vancouver signs former Frost defenders Thompson, Jaques as club's first players
VANCOUVER - Vancouver's new Professional Women's Hockey League team has signed its first player, nabbing defender Claire Thompson from the Minnesota Frost. The two-time Walter Cup champions left the 27-year-old defender exposed and Vancouver inked her to a one-year contract when the exclusive signing window opened to expansion teams on Wednesday. Vancouver later announced the signing of Thompson's Frost teammate and fellow blueliner Sophie Jaques to a three-year contract. 'I'm incredibly excited to join PWHL Vancouver and be a part of this new chapter of women's ice hockey,' Thompson said in a release. 'The opportunity to help build something special from the ground up is truly meaningful. I can't wait to connect with the fans and represent this city.' Thompson, who hails from Toronto, had four goals and 14 assists in 30 games for Minnesota last season. She added another six helpers in eight playoff appearances. Jaques had seven goals and 15 assists in 25 games, tying Renata Fast of the Toronto Sceptres for top spot in scoring by a defender. The 24-year-old Jaques, who's also from Toronto, contributed two goals and five assists in the post-season as the Frost captured the league championship for a second straight year. Thompson and Jaques are both finalists for the PWHL's defender of the year honour. 'I'm incredibly honoured to sign with PWHL Vancouver and to help lay the foundation for something truly special in this city,' Jaques said in a release. 'Being part of this historic moment means so much, and I can't wait to get started and represent Vancouver with pride in this vibrant and hockey-loving community.' Thompson and Jaques both have ample international experience. Thompson helped Canada to gold at the 2021 world championships and the 2022 Beijing Olympics, while Jaques was also on the world championship team that took silver earlier this year. The move to Vancouver will reunite Thompson with general manager Cara Gardner Morey, who was her coach at Princeton. 'Claire is one of the best defenders in the world and a phenomenal leader who will help create a culture of excellence in Vancouver,' Gardner Morey said in a release. 'Having had the privilege of coaching Claire at Princeton, I know how exceptional she is as a player and as a person and couldn't be prouder to build our foundation with her contributions both on and off the ice.' Seattle, the league's other expansion franchise, announced late Wednesday it had signed a one-year deal with former Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight, making her the team's first player. The 35-year-old American superstar is coming off a 2024-25 season where she registered 15 goals and 14 assists, tied for the league-lead in scoring. She's also up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most-valuable player. Knight has a long history on the international stage, including winning gold for the United States at the 2025 women's world championships in April. 'Signing Hilary Knight was an absolute no-brainer — she's the heartbeat of any team she joins,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said in a release. 'Her proven leadership and drive, the way she elevates everyone around her, those are qualities you can't teach. Hilary's not just a game-changer on the ice, she's the kind of person who defines a culture, and we're incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle.' Vancouver and Seattle can continue to sign unprotected players until the exclusive window for expansion clubs closes on Sunday. Both teams will then bolster their rosters with talent during Monday's expansion draft. A leaguewide draft will be held on June 24. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025.
