PWHL Minnesota leaves the ice after their win against PWHL Montreal on Jan. 6, 2024. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Katelyn Auty
Head Copy Editor
Social Media Editor
Associate Sports Editor
Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Minnesota has made history as the first team to hoist the Walter Cup. After an action-packed inaugural season, it all came down to a winner-takes-all game at the Tsongas Center in Massachusetts, PWHL Boston’s home stadium. After a hard-fought series, Minnesota ultimately became the first to win the Walter Cup after beating Boston 3-0.
The first period was uneventful, with no goals from either team. Minnesota forward Liz Schepers opened the scoring in the second period with her first-ever PWHL goal, putting Minnesota on the board and giving them a 1-0 lead. The third period saw a goal from Minnesota forward Michela Cava, bringing the score to 2-0. Kendall Coyne Schofield, captain of PWHL Minnesota, scored an empty-netter with just two minutes left in the game, sealing their victory and shutting out Boston.
Directly following the game was the presentation ceremony for the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award and, of course, the Walter Cup. Presented by Ilana Kloss herself, Taylor Heise was named the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. The Walter family and Billie Jean King, former number one tennis player and champion for women’s sports, presented the Walter Cup to Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield.
“This is the new pinnacle of women’s hockey and to be on top is the best feeling in the world and to be on top with this group is extremely special,” shared Coyne Schofield after the ceremony.
Although the season is over, there are many exciting things for PWHL fans to look forward to in the coming months. The PWHL has announced that the second annual draft will take place on June 10 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It has also been announced that team names and logos for the six teams will be introduced in August of this year.
Overall, this inaugural season has paved the way for what will hopefully be a very successful league. This may be the end of the inaugural season, but this is just the beginning for the PWHL.