Minnesota Frost fans celebrate back-to-back Walter Cup wins p681l

Minnesota Frost fans gathered in St. Paul Wednesday to celebrate the Professional Women’s Hockey League team’s second championship win in two years. The Frost is the only team to win the Walter Cup in the young league’s first two years. They defeated the Ottawa Charge Monday night, winning Game 4 in St. Paul in the best-of-five PWHL Finals. Last year, Minnesota won on the road against Boston, so this year’s win at home was even sweeter for the players and fans. Fullscreen SlideshowPrevious Slide7 of 7Minnesota Frost players watch season highlights as they celebrate winning the Walter Cup Championship at the Xcel Energy Center.Tim Evans for MPR News1 of 7Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek hoists the Walter Cup alongside her teammates outside the RiverCentre.Tim Evans for MPR News2 of 7Minnesota Frost forward Kendall Coyne Schofield speaks on stage during a celebration honoring the team’s second consecutive PWHL title.Tim Evans for MPR NewsNext Slide“It’s just so fun having your friends and family on the ice and celebrate with you. I mean, that's kind of the team behind the team, right? So we don't get here without the people that are behind us, that are on the ice with us, celebrating now,” Frost forward Kelly Pannek said Monday. “So it just makes it really special. And I always think it’s fun being able to be on the road too, and it’s just your team. So now that we’ve had both experiences, it’s pretty nice,” she said. Cyrus Carlson, 17, was at the event. He and his dad came to St. Paul from Lindstrom to celebrate the Frost. “They don’t let me down,” Carlson said. “They’re just an amazing team.” The win is bittersweet though, as the team prepares to lose players in the expansion draft. Each of the six inaugural PWHL teams will relinquish four players from their roster, according to the league’s recently announced expansion draft rules. The changes to the team’s roster didn’t stop players and fans from celebrating the win on Wednesday, with a parade, speeches, music, games, photo opportunities and more. Fullscreen SlideshowPrevious Slide6 of 6Minnesota Frost head coach Ken Klee speaks on stage as the team celebrates winning the Walter Cup Championship.Tim Evans for MPR News1 of 6Minnesota Frost fans Cyrus and Jerry Carlson pose for a portrait at the Xcel Energy Center.Tim Evans for MPR News2 of 6Minnesota Frost fan Anna Franco, 14, poses for a portrait.Tim Evans for MPR NewsNext Slide 6i1543