Minnesota Hockey Journal

But Frost fans can—and should—be excited about who's coming back. That is tenured Lee Stecklein who led all skaters with eight points (four goals, four assists) in the 2025 PWHL playoffs. The 31-year-old knows how to patrol the blue line with the best of them and notes she's excited about the season ahead, even if it comes with an uphill fight. "You can't ignore how different things look on the back end without those players," Stecklein said. "But in general, it's a new year entirely. Last year was great, but each season brings its own new set of challenges. This year, it's new faces who are going to have to step in and make an impact alongside us. "No season is ever easy for any team. We're no different. We may be back-to-back champs, and we know what it takes to get there, but that just means the work starts now for this fresh new year." Minnesota's returning core is strong enough to bolster the team. Seasoned vet Kendall Coyne Schofield returns off a team-leading 12 goals. Lake City's own Taylor Heise is a rising star. The 2022 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Awar winner scored six assists during last year's playoffs and was instrumental in the end victory. Heise's jump from 13 points to 22 between Year 1 and Year 2 suggests this could be her most productive season yet. Heise's partner in crime, Grace Zumwinkle, will also be relied upon. The Excelsior native, 2017 Ms. Hockey winner and former PWHL Rookie of the Year is hoping for a bounce-back year after being sidelined for a large chunk of last season with injury. "We know what everyone in our room is capable of," said Armstrong youth hockey product Kelly Pannek. "There's a lot of talent on this roster. We've got experience, and we have players who are coming in and are going to have to learn pretty quickly as things ramp up in the season. "The best thing is, we have been to the playoffs. We've won the whole thing. Knowing that it takes through the course of the season to get there, and then what it takes at the end to win the whole thing is invaluable." Pannek admits that it would be nice if the Frost didn't wait until the end of the regular season to know their playoff fate. Two straight years it came down to the final day of the regular season to make postseason play. Last year Minnesota finished 10-5-4-11 for a second straight fourth place finish— barely edging into the playoffs before defeating the Toronto Sceptres in the semifinals and eventually a Walter Cup win over the Ottawa Charge. Madison Bizal Elk River Taylor Heise Lake City Kelly Pannek Plymouth Grace Zumwinkle Excelsior Claire Butorac Andover Sidney Morin Minnetonka Lee Stecklein Roseville Maddie Rooney Andover "You just have to believe in yourself," Andover's own Maddie Rooney said. "A lot of things happened last year that were great and not so great. But it really doesn't matter. That was last year. You can't put too much weight—good or bad—on that. Sure, we've had a taste, twice now, of what it's like to win it all. We want it again, but that doesn't mean it's going to be given to us. We're the defending champs to beat for a second year. So we're going to have to do everything we can to live up to that and, hopefully, be back in a position to claim a third dance with Walter." Roseville's Lee Stecklein is one of the most decorated women's hockey players in the world. M H J O N L I N E . C O M | J A N / F E B 2 0 2 6 26 Photos / PWHL/Minnesota Frost

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