Minnesota Frost Training Camp Breakdown

On Oct. 11th, the Minnesota Frost released its training camp roster ahead of the 2024-25 PWHL season. The 28 players invited will take the ice at Tria Rink in St. Paul, MN starting on Nov. 12th. They will also participate in the Toronto mini-camp Nov. 19th-22nd, with two scrimmages scheduled against the Toronto Sceptres on the 20th and the New York Sirens on the 21st. The Frost’s camp lineup includes sixteen forwards, eight defenders, and four goaltenders all looking to be part of the final 23-player roster for the defending PWHL champions. 

Forwards

Signed: Michela Cava, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Britta Curl, Taylor Heise, Klára Hymlárová, Denisa Křížová, Kelly Pannek, Liz Schepers, Grace Zumwinkle

The Frost have a lot of forwards either with term or resigned to new contracts, including their top four scoring leaders from their championship-winning season (Zumwinkle, Coyne Schofield, Heise, and Pannek), a clutch playoff contributor (Cava), and their second- and third-round draft picks (Curl and Hymlárová). With a strong forward core already locked down, general manager Melissa Caruso will be looking to build out the team’s depth with the remaining four projected forward spots. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: Katy Knoll, Brooke McQuigge, Dominique Petrie

Camp Invites: Sydney Brodt, Brooke Bryant, Claire Butorac, Kaitlyn O’Donohoe

As for the players looking to fill those spots, it’s down to three later-round draft picks and some familiar faces. Of the camp invites, only Colgate alum O’Donohoe is brand new, as Brodt, Bryant, and Butorac were all on PWHL Minnesota’s roster last season. McQuigge and O’Donohoe have already been getting their reps in ahead of camp in the SDHL with MoDo and Brynäs respectively, so expect them to be in good shape. I’d also keep an eye on Sydney Brodt. The former captain of the PHF’s Minnesota Whitecaps suffered an injury in preseason that kept her out of the game for most of 2023-24, so she’ll be looking for a new contract and a full, healthy season in the PWHL. 

Defenders

Signed: Natalie Buchbinder, Maggie Flaherty, Sophie Jaques, Lee Stecklein, Claire Thompson

When it comes to the blue line, the Frost is in a great position. Stecklein and Jaques were the best defenders in Minnesota last season and both are locked up through the 2025-26 season. Buchbinder and Flaherty both did well in their first professional seasons, and third-overall pick Thompson was one of the best defenders in her draft class. Together, these players make for a very strong defensive core in the State of Hockey. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: Mae Batherson

Camp Invites: Charlotte Akervik, Mellissa Channell

Assuming standard roster construction, the Frost has room for two more defenders. Batherson, Minnesota’s sixth-round draft pick, is a puck-moving defender from the rising ECAC team at St. Lawrence. Channell was on the roster last year as a stalwart, stay-at-home defender who helped PWHL Minnesota keep the league’s offensive talents at bay in the playoffs. Akervik is a local connection hoping to crack the roster after captaining Minnesota State last season. Any of the three could be solid choices for defensive depth. 

Goaltenders

Signed: Nicole Hensley, Maddie Rooney

Camp Invites: Lauren Bench, Lucy Morgan

Hensley and Rooney are longtime Team USA teammates and split the net comfortably for PWHL Minnesota, with nearly equal stats. Last season, Bench and the now-retired Amanda Leveille were the team’s reserve goalies, but neither saw any ice time in a game. For 2024-25, both prospective third goalies have connections to the State of Hockey. Bench is a Minnesota native who played a season in the SDHL before coming to the PWHL, while Morgan finished her NCAA career with the Golden Gophers as a fifth-year in 2023-24. Either way, there are no concerns in goal for the Frost.