2024-25 PWHL Preview: Minnesota Frost

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Minnesota Frost since May. The team from the State of Hockey lifted the Walter Cup, becoming the first-ever PWHL champions. Then, almost immediately after winning the cup, Natalie Darwitz was relieved of her role as general manager by the league ownership. At the draft, a controversial selection added to the mixed feelings with the team. Things calmed throughout the summer, with a quiet free agency and key contributors sticking around. With the Frost season kicking off on Dec. 1 vs. the New York Sirens, there is certainly a lot to pay attention to in Minnesota.

Storyline of the Season

The obvious question heading into season two is can they do it again? Winning the inaugural Walter Cup puts a lot of pressure on this year’s Frost, which playoff scoring leader and former first-overall pick Taylor Heise acknowledged. One thing working in Minnesota’s favor is that much of their core is sticking around. Kendall Coyne Schofield, Grace Zumwinkle, Taylor Heise, Kelly Pannek, and Michela Cava up front, a blueline of Lee Stecklein, Sophie Jaques, Natalie Buchbinder, and Maggie Flaherty, and the goalie tandem of Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney would be solid for nearly any team, so it’s a great foundation for the Frost. However, PWHL Minnesota was last year’s underdog and their run from being the last seed in the playoffs all the way to the championship was something of a Cinderella story. Is this a year of continued success, regression, or even better fortunes? To be determined.

Changes

As previously mentioned, there’s been quite a bit of shake-up in leadership for Minnesota. Following Darwitz’s departure, Melissa Caruso, a former executive for the AHL, took the helm as general manager. After serving as interim GM for the 2024 draft, Ken Klee returned to just his duties as head coach. 

The Frost also recently announced some additions to their organization. Klee and assistant coach Mira Jaluoso will be joined behind the bench by new assistant Chris “Critter” Johnson. In the front office, scouting assistants Dani Cameranesi Brodzinski, Haley Skarupa, and Alyssa Sleasman will work with Caruso. Other new staff include goalie coach Pete Samargia, team services manager Nick Bryant, strength and conditioning coach Shannon MacAulay, skills coaches Andy Ness and John Schiavo, and assistant equipment manager Blake Kruse.

Minnesota will continue to play its home games at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, but new for this year is a series of neutral site games as part of the PWHL’s “Takeover Tour.” The Frost will play in three tour stops in Denver, Raleigh, and Detroit. 

Key New Arrival

Claire Thompson was perhaps an unusual choice for Minnesota’s third-overall draft pick in 2024, but picking the best player available will have its benefits. The 26-year-old Team Canada regular comes to the Frost after putting medical school on hold to play full-time, and she’s set to bolster the blueline in Minnesota in a big way. Last season, Sophie Jaques and Lee Stecklein played outsized roles, so adding a player of Thompson’s caliber adds to the defensive talent in the State of Hockey. A puck-moving offensive defender, she set the record for the most points in a single tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics, scoring 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists). Thompson can drive play and work in transition in a way that will be great to support teammates like Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle. As Thompson looks towards the national team for the 2026 Olympics, she will certainly be a player to keep an eye on this season in Minnesota. 

Key Departure

While not on the ice, it’s hard to talk about where the Frost is at without including the departure of Natalie Darwitz. The team’s first general manager and Minnesota hockey legend was recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and crucially built the roster that won the Walter Cup. Multiple sources have reported a clash between Darwitz and head coach Ken Klee, with the support of players including Kendall Coyne Schofield, leading to her being let go by the league. It hints at underlying tensions within the team, yet it’s unclear if or how those tensions could leak onto the ice for the Frost. 

In terms of players, Minnesota didn’t lose any of their main contributors, but it’s worth noting the absence of Abigail Boreen. Boreen was a reserve player for PWHL Minnesota while in pharmacy school at the University of Minnesota. She saw the ice in nine games but had to redeclare for the draft. Somewhat bafflingly, the Frost didn’t select her, and Boreen was snapped up by Montréal. Many thought she would only play for Minnesota to continue her studies, but Boreen signed a three-year contract with the Victoire and reported to their training camp. Perhaps a trade could still be a possibility – Minnesota made the first trade of the 2024 season by swapping Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook for Sophie Jaques – but it still feels odd that the Frost let a player who could have been a solid forward for them slip away. 

Prediction

Perhaps I’m courting controversy here, but I think the defending champs are going to miss the playoffs. Stranger things have happened!

Specifically, I predict the Frost will finish fifth by a small margin, like coming down to the last regular season game. While their best contributors are returning, Minnesota was one of last season’s lowest-scoring teams, and with the way rosters are shaping up across the rest of the league, having offensive firepower will be important. The Frost will likely have one of the stronger defense corps, which can help. But with the way this season’s team will likely resemble last season’s, I find myself questioning their offensive production. Minnesota’s 2024 special teams numbers also raise some concerns, with a low power play percentage yet a high number of goals against on the penalty kill in the regular season, but perhaps some new coaching voices can work with that. 

What I want to see out of Minnesota is a move towards consistency and a more well-rounded team. With all the drama off the ice surrounding this team, some stability will be a welcome change. It might just have to come at the cost of last season’s storybook success.