ST. PAUL, Minn. — After bowing out of the playoffs and losing seven straight, PWHL Minnesota had one pick in the semifinals.
“I just think we said fuck it. Just go out there and play,” said Taylor Heise, who scored five goals and was named playoff MVP. “Then I think we played our best match of the turn. And that’s how it usually goes.”
Then Minnesota thought they had won it all. Until another goal was scored game four and they lost.
“I think we were just angry that that happened, that we couldn’t get things sorted out quickly after that,” goalkeeper Nicole Hensley said. “I think in that locker room you just knew we were going to do it.”
The new competition final game was one of Minnesota’s best as they captured the first-ever Walter Cup.
“It’s surreal. You never know what that moment is like,” veteran forward Kelly Pannek said. “Winning championships is always special. But to be the first to win the Walter Cup in the PWHL is something that will forever be remembered.”
During its inception, it was unknown if Minnesota would have a PWHL team. Now, a grid, with a large percentage of Minnesota playersjust won its first championship.
“I’m so grateful we have a Minnesota team,” said Roseville native Lee Stecklein. “I think this state deserves a team. I think we proved that here with our great fan base and crowd turnout.”
“It just goes to show how special this place is to a lot of us,” said former Breck High School and University of Minnesota star Grace Zumwinkle after a successful rookie season in the PWHL. “Being able to play in front of family and friends every night is very rare in professional sports and something we certainly don’t take for granted.”
Rene Clayton
