The 2023–24 PWHL Minnesota season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
PWHL Minnesota clinched the league's final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season, and regular season-champion PWHL Toronto selected Minnesota as its semifinal opponent. Minnesota went on to defeat Toronto in a five-game series, winning three straight games after losing the first two. Minnesota advanced to the PWHL Finals, where they faced PWHL Boston. Minnesota prevailed in another five-game series, winning the inaugural Walter Cup championship. Minnesota's first overall draft pick from the 2023 PWHL draft, Taylor Heise, led the playoffs in scoring and was voted the most valuable player of the playoffs. After the season, Grace Zumwinkle was named the league's rookie of the year.
Offseason
On September 1, 2023, Minnesota hired Natalie Darwitz as its general manager. Darwitz hired Charlie Burggraf as the team's first head coach on September 15. Jake Bobrowski and Mira Jalosuo were hired as assistant coaches on October 6. On September 25, The Hockey News reported that Minnesota would play their home games at Xcel Energy Center.
On September 6, Minnesota announced the signings of their first three players, American national team members Lee Stecklein, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Kelly Pannek. Coyne Schofield was named team captain, with Stecklein and Pannek named assistant captains. Minnesota won the first overall selection in the inaugural PWHL draft on September 18; with the pick, the team selected Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Taylor Heise.
On December 27, 2023—one week before Minnesota's season-opening game—the team announced that Burggraf was stepping down as the team's head coach, and would be replaced by Ken Klee.
Standings
Schedule and results
Regular season Minnesota played its first ever game on January 3, 2024, in Lowell, Massachusetts, against PWHL Boston. Taylor Heise scored the franchise's first goal, and Minnesota went on to win the game by a score of 3–2. The team made its home debut on January 6. Grace Zumwinkle scored a hat-trick and Maddie Rooney posted a shutout in a 3–0 victory over PWHL Montreal. With 13,316 fans in attendance, the game set a new record for attendance at a professional women's hockey game. Despite a strong start to the season, including wins in seven of the team's first eleven games, Minnesota clinched a playoff spot on the last day of the season after losing five straight games to end the regular season.
Regular season schedule
The regular season schedule was published on November 30, 2023.
| 1 || January 3 || @ PWHL Boston || 3–2 || || Hensley || Tsongas Center || 4,012 || 1–0–0–0 || 3 ||
| 2 || January 6 || PWHL Montreal || 3–0 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 13,316 || 2–0–0–0 || 6 ||
| 3 || January 10 || PWHL Toronto || 3–1 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 4,707 || 3–0–0–0 || 9 ||
| 4 || January 14 || PWHL New York || 2–3 || OT || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 7,951 || 3–0–1–0 || 10 ||
| 5 || January 17 || @ PWHL Ottawa || 3–2 || OT || Hensley || TD Place Arena || 5,609 || 3–1–1–0 || 12 ||
| 6 || January 24 || PWHL Montreal || 1–2 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 5,001 || 3–1–1–1 || 12 ||
| 7 || January 27 || @ PWHL Boston || 3–4 || OT || Rooney || Tsongas Center || 4,059 || 3–1–2–1 || 13 ||
| 8 || January 28 || @ PWHL New York || 2–1 || OT || Hensley|| Total Mortgage Arena || 2,393 || 3–2–2–1 || 15 ||
| 9 || February 3 || @ PWHL Toronto || 1–4 || || Hensley || Mattamy Athletic Centre || 2,470 || 3–2–2–2 || 15 ||
| 10 || February 14 || PWHL Ottawa || 2–1 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 6,276 || 4–2–2–2 || 18 ||
| 11 || February 17 || @ PWHL Ottawa || 2–1 || || Hensley || TD Place Arena || 8,407 || 5–2–2–2 || 21 ||
| 12 || February 18 || @ PWHL Montreal || 1–2 || || Rooney || Place Bell || 10,172 || 5–2–2–3 || 21 ||
| 13 || February 25 || PWHL Boston || 0–2 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 10,186 || 5–2–2–4 || 21 ||
| 14 || February 27 || PWHL Toronto || 3–4 || OT || Hensley || 3M Arena at Mariucci || 2,718 || 5–2–3–4 || 22 ||
| 15 || March 3 || @ PWHL New York || 2–0 || || Rooney || UBS Arena || 4,459 || 6–2–3–4 || 25 ||
| 16 || March 5 || PWHL Ottawa || 4–3 || SO || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 4,585 || 6–3–3–4 || 27 ||
| 17 || March 13 || PWHL Boston || 4–0 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 4,669 || 7–3–3–4 || 30 ||
| 18 || March 16 || PWHL New York || 5–1 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 9,006 || 8–3–3–4 || 33 ||
| 19 || March 24 || PWHL Montreal || 3–2 || SO || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 7,268 || 8–4–3–4 || 35 ||
| 20 || April 18 || @ PWHL Montreal || 3–4 || || Rooney || Verdun Auditorium || 3,084 || 8–4–3–5 || 35 ||
| 21 || April 20 || @ PWHL Ottawa || 0–4 || || Hensley || TD Place Arena || 8,110 || 8–4–3–6 || 35 ||
| 22 || April 27 || PWHL Boston || 1–2 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 9,977 || 8–4–3–7 || 35 ||
| 23 || May 1 || @ PWHL Toronto || 1–4 || || Rooney || Mattamy Athletic Centre || 2,571 || 8–4–3–8 || 35 ||
| 24 || May 4 || @ PWHL New York || 2–5 || || Hensley || UBS Arena || 1,563 || 8–4–3–9 || 35 ||
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Playoffs
On May 6, 2024, PWHL Toronto elected to play Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota lost the first two games in the series, failing to score a goal in either; however, Minnesota then won three straight games to clinch the series and advance to the finals, where they faced PWHL Boston. In the finals, Minnesota won the fifth and deciding game of the series on the road with a 3–0 decision to capture the Walter Cup championship.
| 1 || May 8 || @ Toronto || 0–4 || || Hensley || Coca-Cola Coliseum || 8,473 || 0–1 ||
| 2 || May 10 || @ Toronto || 0–2 || || Rooney || Coca-Cola Coliseum || 8,581 || 0–2 ||
| 3 || May 13 || Toronto || 2–0 || || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 3,344 || 1–2 ||
| 4 || May 15 || Toronto || 1–0 || 2OT || Rooney || Xcel Energy Center || 2,766 || 2–2 ||
| 5 || May 17 || @ Toronto || 4–1 || || Rooney || Coca-Cola Coliseum || 8,501 || 3–2 ||
| 1 || May 19 || @ Boston || 3–4 || || Rooney || Tsongas Center || 4,508 || 0–1 ||
| 2 || May 21 || @ Boston || 3–0 || || Hensley || Tsongas Center || 4,543 || 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 24 || Boston || 4–1 || || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 9,054 || 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 26 || Boston || 0–1 || 2OT || Hensley || Xcel Energy Center || 13,104 || 2–2 ||
| 5 || May 29 || @ Boston || 3–0 || || Hensley || Tsongas Center || 6,309 || 3–2 ||
Player statistics = Indicates team leader
Skaters
Regular season Player Grace Zumwinkle 24 11 8 19 98 4Kendall Coyne Schofield 24 6 10 16 79 6Kelly Pannek 24 4 12 16 50 2Taylor Heise 19 4 9 13 52 8Sophie Jaques 15 2 8 10 59 4Michela Cava 24 5 3 8 43 4Lee Stecklein 24 2 6 8 35 16Denisa Křížová 24 3 3 6 50 8Natalie Buchbinder 24 2 4 6 28 0Maggie Flaherty 24 1 5 6 33 14Abby Boreen 9 4 1 5 27 4Sophia Kunin 24 2 1 3 32 6Claire Butorac 21 1 2 3 12 2Liz Schepers 19 0 3 3 28 8Brittyn Fleming 23 1 1 2 26 8Mellissa Channell 24 0 2 2 11 0Brooke Bryant 22 1 0 1 9 6Sydney Brodt 7 0 1 1 1 2Clair DeGeorge 23 0 1 1 14 6Dominique Kremer 12 0 0 0 1 0Emma Greco 22 0 0 0 24 10
Playoffs Player Taylor Heise 10 5 3 8 29 2Michela Cava 10 4 4 8 25 4Sophie Jaques 10 2 3 5 28 2Liz Schepers 10 1 4 5 15 2Mellissa Channell 10 0 5 5 12 2Kendall Coyne Schofield 10 1 3 4 26 0Claire Butorac 10 1 2 3 9 2Lee Stecklein 10 0 3 3 10 2Denisa Křížová 10 2 0 2 18 6Sydney Brodt 10 1 1 2 7 0Kelly Pannek 10 0 2 2 20 0Maggie Flaherty 10 1 0 1 9 2Sophia Kunin 10 1 0 1 14 2Grace Zumwinkle 10 1 0 1 26 0Abby Boreen 5 0 1 1 8 2Brittyn Fleming 9 0 1 1 6 2Natalie Buchbinder 10 0 1 1 16 2Brooke Bryant 6 0 0 0 1 0Clair DeGeorge 10 0 0 0 6 4Emma Greco 10 0 0 0 6 6
Goaltenders
Regular season Player Nicole Hensley 14 849:22 7 6 1 31 2.19 383 0.919 1 0 1 2Maddie Rooney 10 605:34 5 3 2 21 2.08 246 0.915 2 0 0 0
Playoffs Player Nicole Hensley 5 338:29 3 1 1 6 1.06 109 0.945 2 0 0 0Maddie Rooney 5 322:12 3 2 0 6 1.12 116 0.948 2 0 0 0
2023–24 Roster
Active players
Reserves
Awards and honors
Milestones
Regular season Date Player Milestone January 3, 2024 Taylor Heise 1st goal in franchise history 1st career PWHL goal 1st career PWHL game Sophia Kunin 1st career PWHL goal 1st career PWHL game Grace Zumwinkle 1st career PWHL goal 1st career PWHL game Mellissa Channell 1st career PWHL assist 1st career PWHL game Brittyn Fleming 1st assist in franchise history 1st career PWHL assist 1st career PWHL game Nicole Hensley 1st win in franchise history 1st career PWHL win 1st career PWHL game Brooke Bryant 1st career PWHL game Natalie Buchbinder Michela Cava Abby Cook Kendall Coyne Schofield Clair DeGeorge Maggie Flaherty Emma Greco Dominique Kremer Denisa Křížová Kelly Pannek Liz Schepers Lee Stecklein Susanna Tapani January 6, 2024 Grace Zumwinkle 1st career PWHL hat-trick Maddie Rooney 1st career PWHL shutout 1st career PWHL win 1st career PWHL game Claire Butorac 1st career PWHL game January 10, 2024 Lee Stecklein 1st career PWHL assist Denisa Křížová Taylor Heise January 14, 2024 Lee Stecklein 1st career PWHL goal Kelly Pannek Michela Cava 1st career PWHL assist Grace Zumwinkle 1st career penalty shot Maddie Rooney 1st career PWHL loss January 17, 2024 Susanna Tapani 1st career PWHL goal 1st career PWHL power-play goal Grace Zumwinkle 5th career PWHL goal 1st career PWHL short-handed goal 1st career PWHL assist January 24, 2024 Michela Cava 1st career PWHL goal Sophia Kunin 1st career PWHL assist Abby Boreen 1st career PWHL game January 27, 2024 Brittyn Fleming 1st career PWHL goal Claire Butorac 1st career PWHL assist Lee Stecklein 5th career PWHL assist January 28, 2024 Abby Cook 1st career PWHL goal Kendall Coyne Schofield 1st career PWHL assist Abby Boreen 1st career PWHL goal 1st career PWHL overtime goal Nicole Hensley 1st career PWHL assist February 3, 2024 Natalie Buchbinder 1st career PWHL assist February 14, 2024 Abby Boreen 1st career PWHL power-play goal 1st career PWHL assist Sophie Jaques 1st career PWHL assist Maggie Flaherty 1st career PWHL goal February 17, 2024 Maggie Flaherty 1st career PWHL assist February 27, 2024 Sophie Jaques 1st career PWHL goal Natalie Buchbinder March 5, 2024 Denisa Křižová 1st career PWHL goal Kendall Coyne Schofield 5th career PWHL assist Grace Zumwinkle March 13, 2024 Kendall Coyne Schofield 5th career PWHL goal Kelly Pannek 10th career PWHL assist Taylor Heise 5th career PWHL assist Nicole Hensley 1st career PWHL shutout March 16, 2024 Claire Butorac 1st career PWHL goalSydney Brodt 1st career PWHL assist 1st career PWHL game March 24, 2024 Clair DeGeorge 1st career PWHL assist Sophie Jaques 5th career PWHL assist April 18, 2024 Grace Zumwinkle 10th career PWHL goal Brooke Bryant 1st career PWHL goal April 27, 2024 Kendall Coyne Schofield 10th career PWHL assist May 1, 2024 Michela Cava 5th career PWHL goal Maggie Flaherty 5th career PWHL assist
Honors
January 1–7: Grace Zumwinkle named PWHL First Star of the Week January 8–14: Taylor Heise named PWHL Third Star of the Week February 12–18: Kendall Coyne Schofield named PWHL Third Star of the Week February 26 – March 3: Sophie Jaques named PWHL Second Star of the Week March 11–17: Kendall Coyne Schofield and Michela Cava named PWHL First and Second Stars of the Week
Awards Award winnersAwardRecipient(s)RefIlana Kloss Playoff MVP AwardTaylor HeiseRookie of the YearGrace Zumwinkle
Transactions
Minnesota has been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 PWHL season.
Signings