Sauce Us a Follow

Minnesota Frost Win Back-to-Back Walter Cups in Overtime Thriller; Celebration Set for May 28

Share

The Minnesota Frost have made history again, claiming their second consecutive Walter Cup with a dramatic 2-1 overtime win over the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the 2025 PWHL Finals. In front of a roaring home crowd of 11,024 at Xcel Energy Center, Liz Schepers etched her name into the record books for the second straight year, scoring the championship-winning goal in overtime—just as she did in 2024.

It was a game that lived up to the moment. After a scoreless first period, Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek opened the scoring midway through the second, giving the Frost their first lead of the entire Finals. Ottawa refused to go quietly, with Tereza Vanišová tying the game in the third period. Just over 12 minutes into overtime, Schepers buried the winner off a slick setup from Katy Knoll and Klára Hymlárová, igniting celebrations on the ice and in the stands.

Goaltender Maddie Rooney was once again clutch for the Frost, stopping 33 of 34 shots and finishing the postseason undefeated with a 5-0 record. Her consistent brilliance tied her for the PWHL record for most playoff wins in a single postseason. On the other side, Ottawa rookie Gwyneth Philips was named the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP—making history as the first player from a losing team to receive the honor. Her playoff stat line included a league-leading 1.23 GAA and a jaw-dropping .952 save percentage.

Minnesota’s path to the title wasn’t easy. Entering the playoffs as the fourth seed, the Frost clinched their berth on the final day of the regular season. They then rallied from 0-1 series deficits in both the semifinals (vs. Toronto) and the finals, winning three straight overtime games in each round to capture the Cup. Their depth was on full display throughout the playoffs, with 12 different players scoring goals and 15 recording points. Defender Lee Stecklein led all players in postseason scoring with eight points, becoming the first blueliner in league history to do so.

Frost Fans Invited to Celebrate Walter Cup Victory

The team will host a championship celebration event on Wednesday, May 28 from 6–8 p.m. CT at Xcel Energy Center, giving fans the chance to join in the festivities. The free, family-friendly event will feature:

  • A live DJ and music
  • Interactive games and activities
  • Photo ops with the Walter Cup
  • Meet-and-greet opportunities with players
  • Championship merchandise, including official hats, tees, and limited-edition pucks

This marks the first time the Frost have hoisted the Walter Cup on home ice, after winning last year’s title in Boston. Sixteen players, including eight Minnesota natives, have now won back-to-back championships with the team. Several members also made history earlier this year by capturing IIHF World Championship gold with Team USA, capping off an unforgettable season.

PWHL Growth and Expansion

The league, still in just its second season, continues to build momentum. The 2025 Finals averaged over 8,300 fans per game—an 11.6% increase from 2024—and more than 737,000 fans attended games across the season. With expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver joining the league for the 2025–26 season, excitement is only growing. Key offseason dates include the Expansion Draft on June 9 and the PWHL Draft on June 24.

As the confetti settles, the Frost have established themselves as the league’s first true dynasty—and the future of professional women’s hockey looks brighter than ever.

Find more details by visiting thepwhl.com

Featured Image by The PWHL

Around the RinkCoachingLeaguesLocker TalkNewsProPWHL
In this article: #Awards, #ProfessionalWomensHockey, #ProHockey, #WomenInSport, #Womenshockey, Championship, Championship Trophy, grow the game, Hockey, Minnesota Frost, PWHL, PWHL Awards, WalterCup

[adrotate group=”1″]

Previous Post
Professional Women’s Hockey League Expands Again — Seattle Joins the Roster!
Next Post
HISTORY, HEART, AND HEROICS: Egypt Wins Short-Handed in OT Thriller at 2025 Dream Nations Cup Women’s Division

[adrotate group=”2″]