SAINT PAUL, MN (May 14, 2025) – The reigning Walter Cup champions will return to the PWHL Finals as the Minnesota Frost defeated the Toronto Sceptres 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center to win the best-of-five semifinal series 3-1. Taylor Heise scored the overtime winner at the 16:00 minute mark of the extra frame, securing a Frost victory over the Sceptres for a second straight playoff season. Minnesota was the lower seed in both series and eliminated Toronto last season in five games. The Sceptres opened the scoring at 5:28 in the first period with a goal from Julia Gosling on the first shot of the game. Hannah Miller extended Toronto’s lead at 10:33 of the second period but, just 14 seconds later, Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield got the home team on the board— the shortest span between goals in PWHL history. Kelly Pannek tied the game at 18:48, sending the teams into the third period locked 2-2. Emma Maltais regained the lead for Toronto just 58 seconds into the final frame, only to see Minnesota battle back once more with Coyne Schofield’s second of the game at 8:33. The Frost’s top line accounted for 16 points in three straight wins and had six points tonight, with Coyne Schofield’s two goals, two points for Heise, and a pair of assists by Michela Cava. Nicole Hensley returned to the Frost crease for the first time since Game 1 and turned in a 26-save performance in the win. Carly ‘CJ’ Jackson stopped 22 shots in their playoff debut —just their second start of the season.
Minnesota will defend their title against the winner between the Montréal Victoire and Ottawa Charge. Ottawa leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 of the PWHL Playoffs, presented by SharkNinja, set for Friday.
