t's not always easy being the champs—and it's even
harder to defend the title.
The Frost, known simply as PWHL Minnesota in its
inaugural year in 2023-24, didn't have an easy path
to their eventual claim on the Walter Cup champion-
ship. Hot out of the gates with a 3-0 start, Minnesota
lost five straight at the end of the season to give them
a 12-9-3 record and a fourth-place finish where they would then
have to face No. 1 Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.
Toronto took an early two-game lead in the best-of-five series
before Minnesota surged back, rattling off three straight wins. The
Frost then beat Boston in Game 5—on the road—to clinch the title.
" We want the Cup" fan chants quickly morphed into " We got
the Cup."
Heise knows those chants will return louder than ever when
the season opens December 1.
"I think that pressure is a privilege," said the Lake City native. "We
have a salivating fan base and hopefully we can add to that."
ICING
on the Cake
by Jessi Pierce
The PWHL inaugural Walter Cup champs
have a new name, but the same goal
I
Grace
Zumwinkle
Excelsior