Latest news with #IlanaKlossPlayoffMVP
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Rooney, Schepers, Philips named PWHL's three stars of the week
TORONTO - Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney and forward Liz Schepers have been named the PWHL's three stars of the week. Philips capped her standout rookie campaign with 36 saves in a 2–1 overtime loss in Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, earning the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award despite the Charge dropping the best-of-five series.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rooney, Schepers, Philips named PWHL's three stars of the week
TORONTO – Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney and forward Liz Schepers have been named the PWHL's three stars of the week. Philips capped her standout rookie campaign with 36 saves in a 2–1 overtime loss in Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, earning the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award despite the Charge dropping the best-of-five series. She led all post-season goaltenders with a 1.23 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage, following a regular season where she posted a 2.11 GAA and .919 save percentage. The 24-year-old started the season as Emerance Maschmeyer's backup before the latter went down with a lower-body injury in mid-March. Rooney was stellar on the other side, making 33 saves in Minnesota's title-clinching win to finish the playoffs undefeated at 5–0. She turned aside 30 or more shots in three straight games for the first time in her career, closing the post-season with a 1.75 GAA and .932 save percentage — both third among playoff goalies. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Schepers scored the overtime winner on Monday to secure a second straight Walter Cup for the Frost. The 26-year-old's goal was her only point of the playoffs and came on her lone shot in Game 4. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
After close loss in PWHL final, Ottawa Charge brace for roster shakeup
OTTAWA - The Ottawa Charge have plenty to be proud of after a strong showing in the Professional Women's Hockey League's second season, but the real test lies ahead with inevitable roster changes on the horizon. Following a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Frost in the deciding Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, players were still processing the defeat while also dealing with uncertainty about what the team will look like next season. As the league prepares to expand into Vancouver and Seattle, the Charge, and the other five current teams, will lose four players to the expansion draft. Each team can protect three players initially, with the option to protect a fourth after two are selected. Protection lists are due next Tuesday, and with significant changes expected, the Charge's path forward is anything but certain. General manager Mike Hirshfeld said they have already decided on who they will protect and will be letting players know Thursday during exit meetings. 'It's going to be a tough day,' Hirshfeld said. 'I'm sure of it, not looking forward to some of the conversations, but I also understand that this is a great moment for this league.' The Charge (12-2-4-12) finished third in the regular season to advance to the playoffs for the first time. Ottawa beat the number-one seed Montreal Victoire in the opening semifinal round to earn a berth in the final. Ottawa had a strong showing in the final, but an inability to score when most needed proved costly as defending champion Minnesota took the best-of-five series 3-1. Every game required overtime and was decided by one goal. 'There's a lot to be proud of this group and this year, highs and lows, injuries of top players, and there's a lot that happened this year and to be where we ended up is pretty special,' said forward Gabbie Hughes. 'That just speaks volumes to the group that we have.' There was much to like from where Ottawa started the season to where it ended. The Charge failed to qualify for the playoffs last season, but were able to persevere and punch their ticket on the final day of the regular season. 'Really proud of the gains we made here from year one to year two,' said coach Carla MacLeod. 'But, you know, by no means are we going to sit back and rest on our laurels. We're going to keep going here, so there's a lot of opportunity ahead of us.' Much will be made of goaltender Gwyneth Philips' emergence. Philips had a limited role as Emerance Maschmeyer's backup early in the season, but when the veteran netminder went down in March the 25-year-old rookie stepped in with poise making a strong impression in net. Through eight playoff games Philips posted a .952 save percentage, made 257-of-270 saves throughout the Charge's playoff run and was named the 2025 Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. 'For a goalie to have success, you know, people in front of them have to be playing well, and I think we played really well, especially defensively,' Philips said. 'And so I think definitely some other people in the series it could have gone to them, but I think it does kind of validate how good we were defensively.' Philips admitted the expansion draft served as incentive through the playoffs. 'We knew this team wasn't going to look the same, and how much respect and love we had for each other, we wanted to go out with a bang.' Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Maschmeyer were Ottawa's first signings when the league launched, but it would be surprising to see all three return next season. While they understand it's part of the business it doesn't make it any easier. 'I think growth for the league is great, it's exciting,' said Clark. 'But obviously it's not lost on us that the reality is that there could be some big changes.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
After close loss in PWHL final, Ottawa Charge brace for roster shakeup
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Charge have plenty to be proud of after a strong showing in the Professional Women's Hockey League's second season, but the real test lies ahead with inevitable roster changes on the horizon. Following a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Frost in the deciding Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, players were still processing the defeat while also dealing with uncertainty about what the team will look like next season. As the league prepares to expand into Vancouver and Seattle, the Charge, and the other five current teams, will lose four players to the expansion draft. Each team can protect three players initially, with the option to protect a fourth after two are selected. Protection lists are due next Tuesday, and with significant changes expected, the Charge's path forward is anything but certain. General manager Mike Hirshfeld said they have already decided on who they will protect and will be letting players know Thursday during exit meetings. 'It's going to be a tough day,' Hirshfeld said. 'I'm sure of it, not looking forward to some of the conversations, but I also understand that this is a great moment for this league.' The Charge (12-2-4-12) finished third in the regular season to advance to the playoffs for the first time. Ottawa beat the number-one seed Montreal Victoire in the opening semifinal round to earn a berth in the final. Ottawa had a strong showing in the final, but an inability to score when most needed proved costly as defending champion Minnesota took the best-of-five series 3-1. Every game required overtime and was decided by one goal. 'There's a lot to be proud of this group and this year, highs and lows, injuries of top players, and there's a lot that happened this year and to be where we ended up is pretty special,' said forward Gabbie Hughes. 'That just speaks volumes to the group that we have.' There was much to like from where Ottawa started the season to where it ended. The Charge failed to qualify for the playoffs last season, but were able to persevere and punch their ticket on the final day of the regular season. 'Really proud of the gains we made here from year one to year two,' said coach Carla MacLeod. 'But, you know, by no means are we going to sit back and rest on our laurels. We're going to keep going here, so there's a lot of opportunity ahead of us.' Much will be made of goaltender Gwyneth Philips' emergence. Philips had a limited role as Emerance Maschmeyer's backup early in the season, but when the veteran netminder went down in March the 25-year-old rookie stepped in with poise making a strong impression in net. Through eight playoff games Philips posted a .952 save percentage, made 257-of-270 saves throughout the Charge's playoff run and was named the 2025 Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. 'For a goalie to have success, you know, people in front of them have to be playing well, and I think we played really well, especially defensively,' Philips said. 'And so I think definitely some other people in the series it could have gone to them, but I think it does kind of validate how good we were defensively.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Philips admitted the expansion draft served as incentive through the playoffs. 'We knew this team wasn't going to look the same, and how much respect and love we had for each other, we wanted to go out with a bang.' Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Maschmeyer were Ottawa's first signings when the league launched, but it would be surprising to see all three return next season. While they understand it's part of the business it doesn't make it any easier. 'I think growth for the league is great, it's exciting,' said Clark. 'But obviously it's not lost on us that the reality is that there could be some big changes.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Minnesota Frost top Ottawa Charge for back-to-back PWHL championships
Minnesota Frost top Ottawa Charge for back-to-back PWHL championships Show Caption Hide Caption Why Florida Panthers are 'another animal' compared to Hurricanes Former NHLer Riley Cote explains that while he sees the Carolina Hurricanes as a strong, consistent team -- the Florida Panthers are 'just a different animal.' Sports Seriously Minnesota captured its second consecutive PWHL championship on Monday, as Liz Schepers' goal 12 minutes into overtime gave the Frost a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Frost won the best-of-five finals 3-1, as all four games were decided by 2-1 scores in overtime — including Minnesota's victory in triple overtime on Saturday. On the winning tally, Katy Knoll passed out front to Schepers, who fired a quick shot from the slot that Ottawa goalie Gwyneth Philips saved. Schepers then knocked in the rebound. Klara Hymiarova also got an assist. Schepers also had the title-winning goal when Minnesota claimed the Walter Cup in the league's first season in 2024. Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney, who stopped 33 of 34 shots in the clincher, won five straight playoff games to tie the league record for victories in a single postseason. Philips made 36 saves on 38 shots. She was voted the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP as she led all goalies with a 1.15 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage through eight starts. The rookie posted four playoff victories, one of them a shutout, and did not drop a game in regulation. Minnesota's Kelly Pannek opened the scoring at the 10:10 mark of the second period, with assists to Claire Thompson and Grace Zumwinkle. It was Pannek's second goal of the playoffs. The Charge evened the score on Tereza Vanisova's goal at 10:09 of the third period. Danielle Serdachny and Jocelyne Larocque assisted. Vanisova led Ottawa with 15 regular-season goals but went eight games into the playoffs without a score, finally tallying on her 33rd shot on target. After playing penalty-free hockey in both the second and third periods, the teams were assessed offsetting two-minute minors for roughing at 8:01 of overtime.
