The Minnesota Frost have made a habit of ending the Toronto Sceptres’ season in the playoffs. Toronto got a chance to start a season by beating Minnesota on Friday night at Grand Casino Arena.
The Sceptres had a score to settle with the Frost and wanted to be the ones to hand Minnesota a loss to start the year, and Toronto was able to do just that with a 2-1 victory on Friday as the PWHL kicked off its third season.
Before the action started, the Frost and their 9,138 fans in attendance celebrated with the silver glistening of the Walter Cup in a pregame ceremony, raising another championship banner into the rafters of Grand Casino Arena. The crowd was more than ecstatic to celebrate history that put the Frost in an exclusive group with the WNBA’s Houston Comets, winning the first two championships of their league’s existence.
Toronto was left to watch Minnesota celebrate again. In 2024, the Frost won the best-of-five series, 3-2, over Toronto, and this past spring, they advanced to the championship in a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over the Sceptres.
The Frost were in control for most of the first period, with captain Kendall Coyne Schofield scoring their first goal just four minutes into the game. Coyne Schofield finished after a setup pass from forward Britta Curl-Salemme to Kelly Pannek, who got it to Coyne Schofield as she skated right up to Toronto’s goal.
The Frost had 11 shots on goal in the first period, but their next best chance to capitalize on their 1-0 lead came when Pannek was awarded a penalty shot with 4:11 left. Pannek missed the shot, and 1 minute, 16 seconds later, Toronto defender Ella Shelton sneaked one past Maddie Rooney to tie it up 1-all.
The game remained tied in the second period but not without opportunities for both teams. The Sceptres were able to get the first power play early into the period, as they caught Frost forward Katy Knoll on a hooking penalty, but didn’t score. Later, Pannek drew a penalty from Toronto defender Emma Maltais to provide the Frost with their own power play, but they too failed to score on the power play.
Minnesota got another power play early in the third but was unable to capitalize once again. Toronto found an opportunity for its first lead shortly after, as forward Kiara Zanon scored her first professional goal for a 2-1 lead.
The Frost resume play next Friday for their first match-up against the Seattle Torrent, one of two expansion teams this season.
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