Frost Can Learn From Postseason Loss to the Victoire – The Hockey Writers – Minnesota Frost

For the first time in the past three seasons, the Minnesota Frost did not win the Walter Cup. The Frost were the first team to win the Walter Cup when they weren’t even expected to make the postseason or past the semi-finals when they did make it in. Then they went even further and defied the odds by becoming the first team to win back-to-back Walter Cups with similar odds. 

They looked to make even more history by being the first team to win three straight Walter Cups, but after a series of odd circumstances in the postseason, they fell to the eventual Walter Cup Champions, the Montréal Victoire. First, they had to play a back-to-back, which rarely happens in the postseason in any sport, and then they had a game postponed due to illness. Regardless, the Frost fought hard and learned a few things they can use for next season, and we’ll look at those in this article, starting with their goaltending. 

Frost’s Stellar Goaltending 

The Frost have always known their goaltenders; Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney were strong. They’ve proven so through the regular season and two Walter Cup runs that they were both key in winning. When one goaltender struggled, the other stepped up and filled the void, and vice versa. 

This season was a bit different as Hensley struggled a bit going into the postseason, so they went with Rooney. It was a great choice as she led them to a huge Game 1 win that went into overtime, but had quite a few goals against both goaltenders. The next game was another great performance as it took just one goal to win, but unfortunately, after 51 saves in a triple overtime game, the Victoire got the Game 2 win. 

Rooney did everything she could throughout the series to give her team the win, and they saw another level of goaltending from her that they hadn’t seen before. She continues to get better each year in the league, and although Hensley didn’t get to see the ice this postseason, if they had continued to the final, it’s likely she would’ve had her time as well. If the Frost can keep this tandem into the future, they have a strong chance to make it back to the postseason. 

Frost Needed Their Scorers

The top three point producers in the PWHL over the regular season were all Frost players: Kelly Pannek, Taylor Heise, and Britta Curl-Salemme. Pannek also led the league in goals scored, which also set a record for the PWHL. Curl-Salemme led the league in assists, and another Frost player was right behind her in Kendall Cooper. 

While they were strong in the regular season, they didn’t have much success in the postseason. They played well but struggled to convert, especially their leading scorer, Pannek. She played a strong game, but she scored just one goal in five games played. Normally, that’s not too bad, but in the postseason after being the leading scorer in the regular season, they needed more. However, she did have three assists, so she did finish with four points in five games, but her team could’ve used a bit more scoring touch. 

While Pannek still made an impact, Heise and Curl-Salemme were a little bit quieter in terms of production. Heise had 30 points during the regular season, but she had just two assists during the playoffs. While two points in five games is decent for most players, the Frost needed more out of one of their top players. The Victoire found ways to stifle Heise’s production, and it hurt the Frost. 

Curl-Salemme was right behind Heise during the regular season with 29 points, and she was right alongside Heise during the postseason with two assists as well. She did play one less game than Heise due to a suspension that also cost her team. If the Frost wants to be strong in the postseason, they need production. 

The good thing about their production was that someone else stepped up in Sidney Morin, who had four goals in the playoffs. Her goals were a great addition for the Frost, but they needed others to help fill the gap. 

Frost Can’t Win Everytime 

For the last two seasons, it felt like the Frost would find a way, no matter what, to get all the way. This season felt the same, even though it was the first time they secured their spot in the postseason with games left in the regular season. The league is still very young but the Frost established themselves almost right away that they’re a team who can find a way. 

They tried to stick with that against the Victoire, and they almost had it, losing by just one goal in Game 5. They gave it everything they had, and although there are things that could’ve been done differently, they have to be proud of how hard they played. They have to keep that same mentality of being able to get through anything because they know they can, but they also have to accept losing and learn from it.

However, they also have to be careful not to get too confident; they still have to remember who their opponents are and stay ready. The Frost are a strong team, and if they can keep the majority of the players they have, they will be once again, as long as they have their goaltending, their offensive production steps up, and they remember they can win no matter the situation.