The Minnesota Frost are one of the PWHL’s inaugural six franchises. The Frost currently play out of the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. In the PWHL’s inaugural season, the Minnesota Frost became the first ever Walter Cup champions.
The Minnesota Frost built their inaugural roster under general manager and Hockey Hall of Fame member Natalie Darwitz. The team made a head coaching change only days prior to the inaugural season parting ways with Charlie Burggraf and bringing in former NHLer Ken Klee. Playing their home games at the Xcel Energy Center, the Frost drew 13,316 for their first ever home game. The mark set an American professional women’s hockey attendance record, which would be broken later in the season in Detroit. Kendall Coyne Schofield was named the team’s inaugural captain. Early in the season, Minnesota was part of the first trade in PWHL history. The deal sent forward Susanna Tapani and defender Abby Cook to the Boston Fleet in exchange for defender Sophie Jaques. Minnesota backslid their way into the PWHL playoffs losing five straight ahead of the postseason. It resulted in finishing fourth, and facing first place PWHL Toronto in the opening round. Minnesota however, would defeat Toronto in five games (3-2) to advance to the Walter Cup finals. Facing Boston, Minnesota again needed five games, but eventually captured the first ever Walter Cup. First overall draft pick Taylor Heise was named the playoff MVP. Grace Zumwinkle was named the PWHL’s inaugural Rookie of the Year and was also a Second Team All-Star. Jaques was named to the PWHL’s All-Rookie team, as was Zumwinkle.
2024-25 PWHL Season
The offseason following Minnesota’s first season was rife with controversy. The team parted ways with general manager Natalie Darwitz only days after winning the Walter Cup in what was described as an internal coup. The team hired Melissa Caruso as their new general manager. At the 2024 PWHL Draft, Minnesota selected Canadian defender Claire Thompson with their first pick, taking her third overall.
