The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is preparing for its inaugural season, with Team Minnesota gearing up for their opening game on January 3rd against Boston. The game will be held at Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
The game will be streamed live on Bally Sports North for fans in the Midwest and will also be broadcast on TSN and NESN. Additionally, a free stream will be available on the PWHL’s YouTube channel.
PWHL Minnesota has assembled a roster of 15 forwards, eight defenders, and four goaltenders, positioning the team for an action-packed season. The team is led by experienced skaters Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein, as well as the young star Taylor Heise, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick.
Lee Stecklein, a veteran with an impressive 6-foot-tall stature, is expected to anchor the defensive lineup. A three-time Olympian and multiple IIHF Women’s World Championships competitor, Stecklein is joined by talents like Natalie Buchbinder and Maggie Flaherty on defense.
The forward lineup includes accomplished athletes such as Kendall Coyne-Schofield and Kelly Pannek, both with international and collegiate competition experience. The team also features a promising young talent, Taylor Heise, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick and recent recipient of the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Award.
Adding depth to the team are international skaters Susanna Tapani and Denisa Krizova, along with young players like Grace Zumwinkle, Claire Butorac, and Brooke Bryant.
In the goaltending department, veterans Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney will compete for the starting position, supported by Canadian Amanda Leveille and rising star Lauren Bench.
Team Boston, led by captain Hilary Knight, is expected to provide a challenging opponent with a mix of experienced and rising talent in both offense and defense.
With both teams gearing up for the season opener, the anticipation is growing for an exciting start to the PWHL season.
