Wednesday night was the end of the historic, inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and what an ending it was!! After finishing the regular season with five consecutive losses, Minnesota was picked by the top team in the league, Toronto, as being their semi-final opponent. Things looked bleak from the start for Minnesota as they quickly fell into a 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series. That happens in sports, but the scary fact was that in those first two games, Minnesota didn’t even score one goal – Games 1&2 they were shut out.
Things took a turn in Games 3&4 when Minnesota returned the favor, blanking the best team in the league with two shutouts. That set up a decisive Game 5, winner-moves-on matchup in Toronto. If any hockey city suffers more than Minnesota in the playoffs, an argument could be made that Toronto is worse. Well, someone had to lose and thankfully, it was Toronto. Remember, as Toronto was the top seed in the playoffs, they got to pick their opponent and their choice of Minnesota is what sent them home early. Ouch!!
At the same time, Boston swept through Montreal in their semi-final series, 3 games-to-none. They had plenty of time to rest in comparison to Minnesota and took advantage by winning Game 1 of the championship series. Minnesota responded by winning the next two games, which meant they would have the chance to win the very first Walter Cup in its history on home ice in St. Paul last Sunday at the Xcel Energy Center. Instead, the teams battled until the 2nd overtime when it looked as though Minnesota scored the game-winning goal. But the league office, in Toronto, of all places disallowed the goal saying there was goalie interference. That sucked. Just a couple of minutes later, Boston snuck the puck into the net and drew the series to even.
Wednesday night back in Boston, the Walter Cup would finally be presented to the winning team. Game 5, the winner would hoist the Walter Cup for the first time in history. In the end, Minnesota put on a masterful defensive performance, holding Boston to only 17 total shots in the game, including just three in the 3rd period, while they peppered Boston with 44 total shots and 19 in the period.
Liz Schepers scored the game-winner at the 6:14 mark in the second period, with an assist from Sydney Brodt and Natalie Buchbinder. That score would hold until 8:18 of the third, when Minnesota was putting sustained, relentless pressure on Boston and Michaela Cava (assists by Mellissa Channell and Taylor Heise), added her fourth goal of the playoffs with a wrap-around goal that was actually knocked in by the Boston goalie.
Boston would pull their goalie with just under five minutes left in the game, but Minnesota shut down almost any open look or puck possession as soon as Boston would enter the offensive zone. It was an impressive defensive effort by the Minnesota club. Minnesota captain, Kendall Coyne Schofield would out-race a Boston defender to add an empty-netter and seal the win and the Walter Cup for Minnesota. The party was on.
While Heise was the first overall draft pick in the inaugural PWHL draft, Minnesota goalie, Nicole Hensley, was the first goalie selected in the draft. Both ladies were clutch in the playoffs. Heise would not only add the Walter Cup to her long list of accomplishments, but also bring home the first Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP trophy as well.
For Minnesota, losing seven games in a row from the end of the season to Game 3 of the series against Toronto, it was an incredible turn-around. It is even more impressive, Minnesota Head Coach, Ken Klee, wasn’t even hired to coach the team until the week before the start of the season. It seemed destined that Minnesota would win the Walter Cup in the first year in history, no matter what adversity was thrown at them.
If you didn’t watch any PWHL hockey this season, you absolutely missed the start of something amazing. Every player and staff member in the league deserves huge kudos for their hard work and dedication. They are inspiring young girls and women all over the United States and Canada.
Of course, there are many notable hockey women in the State of Hockey history who helped pave the way for what is now PWHL Minnesota. Former Minnesota Whitecaps (the PHF predecessor to PWHL Minnesota) players such as Natalie Darwitz (who is now the PHWL Minnesota General Manager), Jonna (Curtis) Albers, Amanda Leveille, Manon Rheaume and Julie Chu. These players, and women like Meredith Davis, who leads the Mosaic Hockey Collective which empowers players of color to help grow the game, are why girl’s and women’s hockey has never been more popular and inspirational than it is today.
To the newly crowned champs, the State of Hockey salutes you.
The Morning Skate 