Minnesota Frost Look to Spark Late-Season Surge as Stars Return from IIHF World Championship
With just three regular-season games left, the Minnesota Frost are one of three teams vying for the final two playoff spots in the PWHL.
This time last year, the team went through a rough stretch after a three-week break, losing their last five regular-season games. However, they bounced back to win the inaugural Walter Cup, securing two dramatic five-game playoff series victories, including a thrilling Game 5 in each series.
Now, following another break for the IIHF World Championship in Czechia, the Frost are gearing up for their final stretch. They have three regular-season games remaining and sit in fifth place, just one point behind fourth-place Ottawa and two points behind third-place Boston.
The team’s playoff push begins Sunday afternoon with a crucial game against last-place New York at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota will wrap up the regular season with a two-game road trip to Ottawa and Boston, the two teams ahead of them in the standings.
“We have three games in a week and it’s going to decide our fate,” said Frost coach Ken Klee. “If we play well, we’ll keep playing and then we have to just keep that momentum going.”
The Frost are bolstered by the return of 10 players after the IIHF break. Six of those players were part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team, which triumphed over Canada 4-3 in overtime in the final. Two players represented Canada’s silver-medal team, while two others played for host Czechia.
Among the standouts, former Gophers star and the first overall pick in the PWHL draft, Taylor Heise, scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and assisted on Tessa Janecke’s overtime winner. Kelly Pannek, also a former Gopher and two-time Olympic medalist, ranked fourth in tournament scoring with four goals and four assists in seven games.
“I hope that lifts the spirits and keeps them pushing through,” said Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley. “It’s an exciting time for them. We’ve been working hard while they were gone, but we’re thrilled to have them back.”
Defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques played for Canada, while Denisa Křížová and Klára Hymlárová represented Czechia.
“We’ve got six girls coming back really happy,” Klee said. “We have four coming back not so happy.”
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