Talk to any Minnesota sports fan (at least as old as me), and they will tell you that one of the greatest sports playoffs in MN history was when the 1991 Minnesota Twins played in arguably the best World Series ever when they matched up against the Atlanta Braves. Walk-off hits and homers, extra-inning games, unsung heroes, pitching duels (e.g. Jack Morris 10-inning shutout in Game 7) and unbelievable plays. It was pure magic.
However, what was witnessed by a pumped-up crowd of over 11,000 in the Xcel Energy Center last night is the closest thing to MN playoff magic since that October in 1991. Game Four of the PWHL Finals saw the Minnesota Frost host the Ottawa Charge. By the end of the night, overtime would, again, be necessary to determine a winner – more on that later in the program.
After finishing the regular season in a tie for third place, the Frost were the sole U.S. team to make the playoffs. The Frost finished with a record of 10-11 in regulation and 5-4 in games that went to overtime, or exactly at .500 with an overall record of 15-15. The league leader, Montreal Victoire finished with an overall record of 19-11.
Having dispatched the second-place team in the regular season, the Toronto Sceptres in the semi-finals, the Frost then began the championship round against the Charge in Ottawa. After losing Game One on the road, the Frost then put together three straight victories to claim their second of back-to-back championships. For the history buffs out there, not only have the Frost won two straight championships (in the two years of PWHL existence), but the championship also featured all four games going to overtime to decide a winner and all four games finished with a score of 2-1. Game Three ended up going to three overtimes before the Frost secured the win.
With Xcel crowd chanting “we want the cup” even before the opening puck drop, things were looking good for the Minnesota squad heading into the third period with a 1-0 lead after a Kelly Pannek goal midway through the second period. However, Tereza Vanišová would equal the score at 1’s when she buried home a shot past Frost goalie, Maddie Rooney. That score would hold until 12:00 of the first overtime period when Liz Schepers, who only scored two goals in the regular season and one in the postseason, poked a rebound past Gwyneth Philips, the Ottawa tendie for the championship victory.
What an incredible series by both teams. In the post-game ceremonies, Philips would take home the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award after stellar performances throughout the playoffs and logging over 635 minutes TOI in the playoffs, a PWHL record. In net for the Frost, Rooney stopped 33 of 34 shots in the win, her fifth in the postseason – tied for a PWHL record.
“To win in front of our fans, to have over 10,000 come to the (Xcel Energy Center) on a holiday and support our players is just outstanding. It was amazing, even with Gwyneth Philips winning MVP and them all cheering for her. It just shows how great a fan base we have, how much class they have, how much they love the game and how much they love watching the players compete,” commented Frost Head Coach, Ken Klee, about securing the Walter Cup in St. Paul after winning it on the road last year.
The Frost and the rest of the PWHL will take a well-deserved rest before the PWHL Draft on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 EST in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Ottawa, Ontario. The draft will include the two new PWHL expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver. Intriguing prospects on draft night include Casey O’Brien, Haley Winn and Alexis Paddington.
An incredible ending to another fantastic PWHL season. Congratulations to the Frost, Charge, PWHL and women’s hockey fans everywhere!! Watch more for PWHL and NHL news on The Morning Skate.
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