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24 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 Then, last May, the National Women's Hockey League purchased the Whitecaps as an expansion team, officially making them the fifth member of the ever-growing league. "Just having Minnesota in the NWHL expands our national footprint and grows our game in so many ways," league commissioner Dani Rylan said. "This is a monumental step for the NWHL." Since then, the overall fandom for the Whitecaps has grown in and around the Twin Cities. While the franchise itself already had some name recognition based on the fact that it's been around for the last 15 years, its reach has extended over the last six months or so. "It was kind of a unique situations because the Whitecaps have been around for awhile," Engelhardt said. "That couldn't hurt, right? That said, I know not everybody that was in the stands for the first game knew there was a team that's been around for 15 years." Truthfully, it's a perfect formula for the Whitecaps, as they have the old fans who now get to see their team play at the highest level, and the new fans, who provide an opportunity to continue to grow the game at the grassroots level. "It's huge," said Hannah Brandt, a former star with the Gophers and an Olympic gold medalist, "Wow. We are still here 15 years later." – WINNY BRODT BROWN MINNESOTA WHITECAPS Photos / Kirsten Burton who jumped at the opportunity to sign on with the Whitecaps this offseason. "I can't underscore how much of an impact this will have on young girls. We never had this to look up to when growing up. Your dream was to play in college and then maybe the Olympics. That was it. We watched the NHL and knew that we wouldn't be able to do that. It's amaz- ing that young girls now can have a dream of becom- ing a professional in this sport. It's something they can strive for." That first game also served as a special moment for Brandt as it served as a full circle moment for her. She had fond memories being coached by Brodt Brown as a kid growing up in the eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities, and the fact she was now playing with her on a professional team was enough to give her chills. "She played a huge role in my life growing up," Brandt said. "To actually be on the same team is kind of crazy. She always said she was going to play as long as it took to play on the same team as us. I don't know many 40-year-olds that could be playing at such a high level." It also gave Brandt something to strive for down the road. "It makes me think that maybe there are young girls that I've coached that I could end up playing with later on," Brandt said. "It shows that every- MINNESOTANS CAPPING THE ROSTER Julie Friend (Minnetonka) Lee Stecklein (Roseville) Jonna Curtis (Elk River) Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal (Roseville) Winny Brodt Brown (Roseville) Kate Schipper (Brooklyn Park) Emma Stauber (Duluth) Allie Thunstrom (Maplewood) Lista Martinson (St. Louis Park) Meghan Pezon (Eden Prairie) Margo Lund (White Bear Lake) Sadie Lundquist (Cloquet) Amy Schlagel (Blaine) Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights) Amy Menke (Shakopee) Kalli Funk (Roseville) Lauren Barnes (Burnsville) Sydney Rossman (Excelsior) Haylea Schmid (Oak Grove)