Season: | 2023–24 |
Year: | 2024 |
Team: | PWHL Minnesota |
League: | PWHL |
Record: | 8–4–3–9 (4th) |
Homerecord: | 5–2–2–3 |
Roadrecord: | 3–2–1–6 |
Goalsfor: | 54 |
Goalsagainst: | 54 |
Generalmanager: | Natalie Darwitz[1] |
Goalsleader: | Grace Zumwinkle (11)[2] |
Assistsleader: | Kelly Pannek (12) |
Pointsleader: | Grace Zumwinkle (19) |
Pimleader: | Lee Stecklein (16) |
Plusminusleader: | Kendall Coyne Schofield (+12) |
Winsleader: | Nicole Hensley (7)[3] |
Gaaleader: | Maddie Rooney (2.08) |
Next Season: | 2024–25 |
The 2023–24 PWHL Minnesota season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
PWHL Minnesota clinched the league's final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season, and regular season-champion PWHL Toronto selected Minnesota as its semifinal opponent.[4] Minnesota went on to defeat Toronto in a five-game series, winning three straight games after losing the first two.[5] Minnesota advanced to the PWHL Finals, where they faced PWHL Boston. Minnesota prevailed in another five-game series, winning the inaugural Walter Cup championship.[6] Minnesota's first overall draft pick from the 2023 PWHL draft, Taylor Heise, led the playoffs in scoring and was voted the most valuable player of the playoffs.[7] After the season, Grace Zumwinkle was named the league's rookie of the year.[8]
On September 1, 2023, Minnesota hired Natalie Darwitz as its general manager.[9] Darwitz hired Charlie Burggraf as the team's first head coach on September 15.[10] Jake Bobrowski and Mira Jalosuo were hired as assistant coaches on October 6.[11] On September 25, The Hockey News reported that Minnesota would play their home games at Xcel Energy Center.[12]
On September 6, Minnesota announced the signings of their first three players, American national team members Lee Stecklein, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Kelly Pannek.[13] Coyne Schofield was named team captain, with Stecklein and Pannek named assistant captains.[14] Minnesota won the first overall selection in the inaugural PWHL draft on September 18; with the pick, the team selected Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Taylor Heise.[15]
On December 27, 2023—one week before Minnesota's season-opening game—the team announced that Burggraf was stepping down as the team's head coach, and would be replaced by Ken Klee.[16]
Minnesota played its first ever game on January 3, 2024, in Lowell, Massachusetts, against PWHL Boston. Taylor Heise scored the franchise's first goal, and Minnesota went on to win the game by a score of 3–2.[17] The team made its home debut on January 6. Grace Zumwinkle scored a hat-trick and Maddie Rooney posted a shutout in a 3–0 victory over PWHL Montreal.[18] With 13,316 fans in attendance, the game set a new record for attendance at a professional women's hockey game.[19] Despite a strong start to the season, including wins in seven of the team's first eleven games, Minnesota clinched a playoff spot on the last day of the season after losing five straight games to end the regular season.
The regular season schedule was published on November 30, 2023.[20]
|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 || January 3 || @ PWHL Boston || 3–2 || || Hensley || Tsongas Center || 4,012 || 1–0–0–0 || 3 || [21] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 || January 6 || PWHL Montreal || 3–0 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 13,316 || 2–0–0–0 || 6 || [22] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || January 10 || PWHL Toronto || 3–1 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 4,707 || 3–0–0–0 || 9 || [23] |- style="background:#fff;"| 4 || January 14 || PWHL New York || 2–3 || OT || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 7,951 || 3–0–1–0 || 10 || [24] |- style="background:#ccf;"| 5 || January 17 || @ PWHL Ottawa || 3–2 || OT || Hensley || TD Place Arena || 5,609 || 3–1–1–0 || 12 || [25] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 6 || January 24 || PWHL Montreal || 1–2 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 5,001 || 3–1–1–1 || 12 || [26] |- style="background:#fff;"| 7 || January 27 || @ PWHL Boston || 3–4 || OT || Rooney || Tsongas Center || 4,059 || 3–1–2–1 || 13 || [27] |- style="background:#ccf;"| 8 || January 28 || @ PWHL New York || 2–1 || OT || Hensley|| Total Mortgage Arena || 2,393 || 3–2–2–1 || 15 || [28] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9 || February 3 || @ PWHL Toronto || 1–4 || || Hensley || Mattamy Athletic Centre || 2,470 || 3–2–2–2 || 15 || [29] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 10 || February 14 || PWHL Ottawa || 2–1 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 6,276 || 4–2–2–2 || 18 || [30] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 11 || February 17 || @ PWHL Ottawa || 2–1 || || Hensley || TD Place Arena || 8,407 || 5–2–2–2 || 21 || [31] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || February 18 || @ PWHL Montreal || 1–2 || || Rooney || Place Bell || 10,172 || 5–2–2–3 || 21 || [32] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 13 || February 25 || PWHL Boston || 0–2 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 10,186 || 5–2–2–4 || 21 || [33] |- style="background:#fff;"| 14 || February 27 || PWHL Toronto || 3–4 || OT || Hensley || 3M Arena at Mariucci || 2,718 || 5–2–3–4 || 22 || [34] |-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15 || March 3 || @ PWHL New York || 2–0 || || Rooney || UBS Arena || 4,459 || 6–2–3–4 || 25 || [35] |- style="background:#ccf;"| 16 || March 5 || PWHL Ottawa || 4–3 || SO || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 4,585 || 6–3–3–4 || 27 || [36] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 17 || March 13 || PWHL Boston || 4–0 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 4,669 || 7–3–3–4 || 30 || [37] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 18 || March 16 || PWHL New York || 5–1 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 9,006 || 8–3–3–4 || 33 || [38] |- style="background:#ccf;"| 19 || March 24 || PWHL Montreal || 3–2 || SO || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 7,268 || 8–4–3–4 || 35 || [39] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 20 || April 18 || @ PWHL Montreal || 3–4 || || Rooney || Verdun Auditorium || 3,084 || 8–4–3–5 || 35 || [40] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 21 || April 20 || @ PWHL Ottawa || 0–4 || || Hensley || TD Place Arena || 8,110 || 8–4–3–6 || 35 || [41] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 22 || April 27 || PWHL Boston || 1–2 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 9,977 || 8–4–3–7 || 35 || [42] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23 || May 1 || @ PWHL Toronto || 1–4 || || Rooney || Mattamy Athletic Centre || 2,571 || 8–4–3–8 || 35 || [43] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 24 || May 4 || @ PWHL New York || 2–5 || || Hensley || UBS Arena || 1,563 || 8–4–3–9 || 35 || [44] |- style="text-align:center;"|
On May 6, 2024, PWHL Toronto elected to play Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota lost the first two games in the series, failing to score a goal in either; however, Minnesota then won three straight games to clinch the series and advance to the finals, where they faced PWHL Boston. In the finals, Minnesota won the fifth and deciding game of the series on the road with a 3–0 decision to capture the Walter Cup championship.
|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || May 8 || @ Toronto || 0–4 || || Hensley || Coca-Cola Coliseum || 8,473 || 0–1 || [45] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || May 10 || @ Toronto || 0–2 || || Rooney || Coca-Cola Coliseum || 8,581 || 0–2 || [46] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || May 13 || Toronto || 2–0 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 3,344 || 1–2 || [47] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 || May 15 || Toronto || 1–0 || 2OT || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 2,766 || 2–2 || [48] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 5 || May 17 || @ Toronto || 4–1 || || Rooney || Coca-Cola Coliseum || 8,501 || 3–2 || [49] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || May 19 || @ Boston || 3–4 || || Rooney || Tsongas Center || 4,508 || 0–1 || [50] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 || May 21 || @ Boston || 3–0 || || Hensley || Tsongas Center || 4,543 || 1–1 || [51] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || May 24 || Boston || 4–1 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 9,054 || 2–1 || [52] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 4 || May 26 || Boston || 0–1 || 2OT || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 13,104 || 2–2 || [53] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 5 || May 29 || @ Boston || 3–0 || || Hensley || Tsongas Center || 6,309 || 3–2 || [54]
Player | data-sort-type="number" | ! | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 98 | 4 | |||
24 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 79 | 6 | |||
24 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 50 | 2 | |||
19 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 52 | 8 | |||
15 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 59 | 4 | |||
24 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 43 | 4 | |||
24 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 16 | |||
24 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 8 | |||
24 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 0 | |||
24 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 14 | |||
9 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 4 | |||
24 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 6 | |||
21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 2 | |||
19 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 8 | |||
23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 8 | |||
24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | |||
22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | |||
7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 | |||
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 10 |
Player | data-sort-type="number" | ! | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 29 | 2 | |||
10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 4 | |||
10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 2 | |||
10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 2 | |||
10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 2 | |||
10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 0 | |||
10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 2 | |||
10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 | |||
10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 6 | |||
10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |||
10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | |||
10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | |||
10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | |||
10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0 | |||
5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |||
9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||
10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 2 | |||
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |||
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
+ colspan="16" style="background:#fff; border-top:#5A288D 5px solid; border-bottom:#000 5px solid;" | Regular season | |||||||||||||
Player | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 849:22 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 31 | 2.19 | 383 | 0.919 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
10 | 605:34 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 2.08 | 246 | 0.915 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
+ colspan="16" style="background:#fff; border-top:#5A288D 5px solid; border-bottom:#000 5px solid;" | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
Player | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 338:29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1.06 | 109 | 0.945 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
5 | 322:12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1.12 | 116 | 0.948 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player | Milestone | Reached |
---|---|---|
1st goal in franchise history | January 3, 2024 | |
1st career PWHL goal | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st career PWHL goal | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st career PWHL goal | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st career PWHL assist | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st assist in franchise history | ||
1st career PWHL assist | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st win in franchise history | ||
1st career PWHL win | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
Natalie Buchbinder | ||
Michela Cava | ||
Abby Cook | ||
Kendall Coyne Schofield | ||
Clair DeGeorge | ||
Maggie Flaherty | ||
Emma Greco | ||
Dominique Kremer | ||
Denisa Křížová | ||
Kelly Pannek | ||
Liz Schepers | ||
Lee Stecklein | ||
Susanna Tapani | ||
Grace Zumwinkle | 1st career PWHL hat-trick | January 6, 2024 |
1st career PWHL shutout | ||
1st career PWHL win | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
Lee Stecklein | 1st career PWHL assist | January 10, 2024 |
Denisa Křížová | ||
Taylor Heise | ||
Lee Stecklein | 1st career PWHL goal | January 14, 2024 |
Kelly Pannek | ||
Michela Cava | 1st career PWHL assist | |
Grace Zumwinkle | 1st career penalty shot | |
Maddie Rooney | 1st career PWHL loss | |
Susanna Tapani | 1st career PWHL goal | January 17, 2024 |
1st career PWHL power-play goal | ||
Grace Zumwinkle | 5th career PWHL goal | |
1st career PWHL short-handed goal | ||
1st career PWHL assist | ||
Michela Cava | 1st career PWHL goal | January 24, 2024 |
Sophia Kunin | 1st career PWHL assist | |
1st career PWHL game | ||
Brittyn Fleming | 1st career PWHL goal | January 27, 2024 |
Claire Butorac | 1st career PWHL assist | |
Lee Stecklein | 5th career PWHL assist | |
Abby Cook | 1st career PWHL goal | January 28, 2024 |
Kendall Coyne Schofield | 1st career PWHL assist | |
Abby Boreen | 1st career PWHL goal | |
1st career PWHL overtime goal | ||
Nicole Hensley | 1st career PWHL assist | |
Natalie Buchbinder | 1st career PWHL assist | February 3, 2024 |
Abby Boreen | 1st career PWHL power-play goal | February 14, 2024 |
1st career PWHL assist | ||
1st career PWHL assist | ||
Maggie Flaherty | 1st career PWHL goal | |
Maggie Flaherty | 1st career PWHL assist | February 17, 2024 |
Sophie Jaques | 1st career PWHL goal | February 27, 2024 |
Natalie Buchbinder | ||
Denisa Křižová | 1st career PWHL goal | March 5, 2024 |
Kendall Coyne Schofield | 5th career PWHL assist | |
Grace Zumwinkle | ||
Kendall Coyne Schofield | 5th career PWHL goal | March 13, 2024 |
Kelly Pannek | 10th career PWHL assist | |
Taylor Heise | 5th career PWHL assist | |
Nicole Hensley | 1st career PWHL shutout | |
Claire Butorac | 1st career PWHL goal | March 16, 2024 |
1st career PWHL assist | ||
1st career PWHL game | ||
Clair DeGeorge | 1st career PWHL assist | March 24, 2024 |
Sophie Jaques | 5th career PWHL assist | |
Grace Zumwinkle | 10th career PWHL goal | April 18, 2024 |
Brooke Bryant | 1st career PWHL goal | |
Kendall Coyne Schofield | 10th career PWHL assist | April 27, 2024 |
Michela Cava | 5th career PWHL goal | May 1, 2024 |
Maggie Flaherty | 5th career PWHL assist |
Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award | Taylor Heise | ||
Rookie of the Year | Grace Zumwinkle |
Minnesota has been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 PWHL season.
Date | Player | Position | Term | Previous Team | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 6, 2023 | F | 3 years | Team Scotiabank | [60] [61] | ||
September 6, 2023 | F | 3 years | Team Adidas | |||
September 6, 2023 | D | 3 years | Team Harvey's | |||
October 26, 2023 | F | 3 years | ||||
October 31, 2023 | G | 3 years | Team Sonnet | |||
November 1, 2023 | F | 3 years | Minnesota | |||
November 8, 2023 | F | 2 years | ||||
November 20, 2023 | D | 2 years | ||||
November 27, 2023 | D | 2 years | ||||
November 29, 2023 | F | 1 year | ||||
November 29, 2023 | F | 1 year | ||||
November 30, 2023 | F | 1 year | Minnesota Whitecaps | |||
November 30, 2023 | F | 1 year | Minnesota State | |||
December 1, 2023 | F | 1 year | Team Harvey's | |||
December 1, 2023 | F | 1 year | Minnesota Whitecaps | |||
December 1, 2023 | F | 2 years | Minnesota Whitecaps | |||
December 7, 2023 | F | 1 year | Team Harvey's | |||
December 7, 2023 | F | 1 year | ||||
December 19, 2023 | G | 1 year | Minnesota Whitecaps | [62] | ||
December 19, 2023 | G | 2 years | Team Adidas | [63] | ||
December 20, 2023 | D | 1 year | [64] | |||
December 20, 2023 | D | 1 year | [65] | |||
December 21, 2023 | D | 1 year | Toronto Six | [66] | ||
December 21, 2023 | D | 1 year | Team Harvey's | [67] |
See also: List of PWHL Minnesota draft picks. Below are the PWHL Minnesota's selections at the 2023 PWHL draft held on September 18, 2023.[69] PWHL Minnesota was awarded the first overall selection through a draft lottery.[70]
Rd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Previous team | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Forward | Minnesota (WCHA) | |||
2 | 12 | Goaltender | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) | |||
3 | 13 | Forward | Minnesota (WCHA) | |||
4 | 24 | Defence | Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) | |||
5 | 25 | Forward | KRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL; 2021–22) | |||
6 | 36 | Forward | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) | |||
7 | 37 | Defence | Wisconsin (WCHA) | |||
8 | 48 | Forward | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) | |||
9 | 49 | Defence | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) | |||
10 | 60 | Forward | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) | |||
11 | 61 | Goaltender | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) | |||
12 | 72 | Forward | Toronto Six (PHF) | |||
13 | 73 | Forward | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) | |||
14 | 84 | Defence | Kiekko-Espoo (NSML) | |||
15 | 85 | Forward | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |