Celebrations All Around for the Minnesota Frost

Minnesota continued their road trip to Toronto, bringing the Frost with them in a 5-1 win against the Toronto Sceptres. The teams last faced off in the season opener for Minnesota’s banner-raising night, where the Sceptres rained on their parade, taking home a 2-1 victory. 

The game got off to a fast start for both teams, with lots of back-and-forth action. Toronto had a pair of opportunities, both blocked by Frost defenders, before Maggie Connors took a tripping penalty, giving Minnesota the space to find some opportunities.

The first breakthrough of the game came from Daryl Watts, from a redirected pass from Renata Fast, notching the lone goal for the Sceptres early. The goal marked Watts' 50th point in the PWHL, just the second player to reach the milestone, joining Marie-Philip Poulin. 

But it wouldn’t take long for the Frost to find the answer, with Katy Knoll winning the faceoff in the offensive zone, pushing the puck to Taylor Heise, who connected with Kendall Cooper in front of the net, for the initial shot before Knoll sent the rebound around Elaine Chuli’s skate. From there, the Frost took over, and after just 7 shots, Britta Curl-Salemme doubled Minnesota’s lead, after her shot was deflected off Chuli, for what ultimately became the game-winner. 

The Sceptres came out hungry in the second, dominating the majority of the first half, firing off 8 shots, but Nicole Hensley and the Frost defence had the answer, not letting anything past. Just over halfway through the period, Clara van Wieren took a hooking penalty, putting the Frost on a power play. On the power play, it would be Grace Zumwinkle who found the back of the net off a pass from Kendall Coyne-Schofield.

Kendall Coyne-Schofield Goal

Then it was Kendall Coyne-Schofield for one of her own to end the second period, shooting off her backhand in between Chuli’s pads. The pass came from Abby Hustler, the Frost’s second-round draft pick, who is now on a 2-game point streak, after scoring her first goal in Edmonton against the Vancouver Goldeneyes. 

To start the third period, the Toronto Sceptres swapped goaltenders, putting Raygan Kirk in. Toronto’s momentum seemed to switch after the intermission, finding lots of chances, all of which Nicole Hensley and the Frost shut down. In a final push to get something going, the Sceptres pulled their goalie with 5:45 remaining. Instead, the Frost found the net again as Sidney Morin passed up to Kendall Coyne-Schofield in the neutral zone, where she picked up speed heading for the empty net, finishing the game with 2 goals and an assist. 

With the win, Minnesota moves up to second in the standings, just 4 points behind the Boston Fleet.

Curl’s Our Girl 

Minnesota Frost Celebrations All Around (Cameron Surdyk via Minnesota Frost)

Through Minnesota’s first eight games, Britta Curl-Salemme has proven why protecting her in the expansion draft was the best decision for the Frost. She has been a league leader all season, leading the league in points (10) and assists (7). She also ranks eighth overall in goals currently with 3. Her impact is one that cannot be ignored. 

In a rookie season like no other, Curl finished with 9 goals and 6 assists in the regular season, adding 3 more goals in the playoffs. Two of those goals came in Game 2 of the Finals in Ottawa, with both the tying goal and overtime winner. 

She’s also been making an impact outside of the league, as a part of the USA Women’s National Team as well as Da Beauty League this past summer. Curl is expected to make her Olympic debut at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games in February, in a much-anticipated tournament. 

Hensley Star of the Show 

Nicole Hensley Save

Nicole Hensley was as cold as ice, keeping the Frost’s backend locked down, making several impressive saves throughout the night, blocking 31 of 32 shots. So far this season, she has only allowed only 7 goals against. With the win, Hensley moves to 4-0-1 on the season. 

Up Next 

The Minnesota Frost continue their road trip, north to Ottawa, January 3rd to take on the Ottawa Charge for their third meeting this season. In their first matchup at TD Place, the Frost took a 5-1 win over the Charge. While in their second meeting in Chicago, the Charge pulled away with a 3-2 overtime win. The Frost will look to continue their momentum from back-to-back wins.