On November 15th, 2023, training camps kicked off across the Professional Women’s Hockey League – PWHL- in preparation for the league’s inaugural season set to begin in January. The start of training camp also meant the announcement of training facilities, jersey designs, and player signings.
For the inaugural season, TRIA Rink will be the home of on-ice for Minnesota. They will also be partnering with D1 Training for access to a premier off-ice training environment.
“Minnesota is excited to call TRIA Rink our practice facility,” said Natalie Darwitz, PWHL Minnesota General Manager, in the team’s press release. “TRIA Rink is one of the best ice rinks in the State of Hockey with their unique atmosphere with the windows that allow natural light. Their rink staff is professional and goes the extra mile to truly make us feel that this is a home for our organization. Our players and staff will benefit from being in TRIA Rink, not only from an on-ice standpoint, but with the amenities it provides, and the staff who operate it.”
At the start of training camp, the PWHL dropped jersey designs and colors for the inaugural season. Minnesota’s color scheme consists of purple, black, and white. Their home jersey will be predominantly purple, while the away jerseys will be mostly white.
As training camps roll along, rosters for the inaugural season have begun to take shape.
As of right now, Minnesota has 24 players signed to contracts for the inaugural PWHL season.
Kendall Coyne Schofield, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein were the first three to sign contracts with Minnesota on September 6th, 2023, which took place during the initial free agency period. Each one signed a three-year contract.
Final rosters for each PWHL team must include 23 players signed to Standard Player Agreements, plus two Reserve Player Contracts.
Below are the players who have signed with Minnesota for the inaugural PWHL season.
*Roster official as of 01/03/2024
Forwards (14)
Sydney Brodt
1-year contract
Signed: 11/29/2023
Drafted: 15th round, 85th overall in 2023 draft
Brooke Bryant
1-year contract
Signed: 11/29/2023
Free Agent Signing
Claire Butorac
1-year contract
Signed: 11/30/2023
Michela Cava
1-year contract
Signed: 12/07/2023
Drafted: 12th round, 72nd overall in the 2023 draft
Kendall Coyne Schofield
3-year contract
Signed: 09/06/2023
Free Agent Signing
Clair DeGeorge
1-year contract
Signed: 12/07/2023
Drafted: 6th round, 36th overall in 2023 draft
Brittyn Fleming
1-year contract
Signed: 12/01/2023
Free Agent Signing
Taylor Heise
3-year contract
Signed: 10/26/2023
Drafted: 1st overall in the 2023 draft
Denisa Krizova
2-year contract
Signed: 12/01/2023
Drafted: 8th round, 48th overall in the 2023 draft
Sophia Kunin
1-year contract
Signed: 12/01/2023
Drafted: 10th round, 60th overall in 2023 draft
Kelly Pannek
3-year contract
Signed: 09/06/2023
Free Agent Signing
Liz Schepers
1-year contract
Signed: 11/30/2023
Drafted: 13th round, 73rd overall in 2023 draft
Susanna Tapani
2-year contract
Signed: 11/08/2023
Drafted: 5th round, 25th overall in 2023 draft
Grace Zumwinkle
3-year contract
Signed: 11/01/2023
Drafted: 3rd round; 13th overall in 2023 draft
Around The PWHL
Defense (7)
Natalie Buchbinder
2-year contract
Signed: 11/27/2023
Drafted: 7th round, 37th overall in 2023 draft
Mellissa Channell
1-year contract
Signed: 12/21/2023
Drafted: 10th round, 59th overall in 2023 draft
Abby Cook
1-year contract
Signed: 12/20/2023
Free Agent Signing
Maggie Flaherty
2-year contract
Signed: 11/20/2023
Drafted: 4th round, 24th overall in 2023 draft
Emma Greco
1-year contract
Signed: 12/21/2023
Free Agent Signing
Dominique Kremer
1-year contract
Signed: 12/20/2023
Free Agent Signing
Lee Stecklein
3-year contract
Signed: 09/06/2023
Free Agent Signing
Goaltenders (3)
Nicole Hensley
3-year contract
Signed: 10/31/2023
Drafted: 2nd round; 12th overall in 2023 draft
Amanda Leveille
1-year contract
Signed: 12/19/2023
Drafted: 11th round, 61st overall in 2023 draft
Maddie Rooney
2-year contract
Signed: 12/19/2023
Free Agent Signing
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