Charge, Frost keep focus on Walter Cup final after expansion draft announcement
The anticipation for the Walter Cup final opener between the Ottawa Charge and the Minnesota Frost was palpable, but the focus shifted to the announcement of the 2025 expansion draft by the Professional Women’s Hockey League. As players and coaches were bombarded with questions about the upcoming expansion and free agency, the priority for Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod remained unwavering.
MacLeod emphasized that her primary focus was on the series ahead, despite the distractions surrounding the expansion draft. She stressed the importance of controlling what they can, which is their performance on the ice. While the players were aware of the expansion process, the coaching staff ensured that their attention remained on the task at hand.
Similarly, Minnesota coach Ken Klee echoed MacLeod’s sentiments, emphasizing that they were solely focused on playing in the final.
The expansion draft aims to create competitive teams for Vancouver and Seattle in the upcoming season. The process includes a player protection phase, an exclusive signing window, the expansion draft, and the 2025 PWHL Draft. Each of the original six PWHL teams will lose four players, with the expansion teams having the opportunity to sign unprotected or expiring-contract players before the draft on June 9.
Despite the looming expansion draft, the Charge and the Frost were gearing up for a showdown in the Walter Cup final. Ottawa secured their spot in the final by defeating top-seeded Montreal, while defending champions Minnesota overcame Toronto in the semifinals.
The Frost’s offensive depth poses a significant challenge for Ottawa, who will need to rely on solid defensive play and stellar goaltending to contain Minnesota’s potent attack. Ottawa’s success against Montreal was attributed to their defensive structure and goaltender Gwyn Philips’ outstanding performance.
On the other hand, Minnesota has a strong goaltending duo in Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney, both vying for a chance to shine in the final series. The stage is set for an exciting championship clash between two formidable teams.
The Walter Cup final kicks off in Ottawa on Tuesday, promising a thrilling battle for the coveted title. Stay tuned for more updates on the series and the upcoming expansion draft in the PWHL.
