Minnesota Whitecaps getting set for inaugural NWHL season

Minnesota Whitecaps co-captain Winny Brodt Brown has played for the team since its inception in 2004. Let’s Play Hockey photo by Mike Thill

On May 15, the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) announced the acquisition of the Minnesota Whitecaps to join the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and Metropolitan Riveters as the NWHL’s fifth team, and first expansion team. The Whitecaps will begin play in 2018-19, the fourth season since the league’s formation in 2015.

“Minnesota is an essential part of women’s hockey in North America, NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan said. “When you consider all of the talented players in this area and the passion this community has for the game, the Whitecaps are going to be incredible on and off the ice. The women’s hockey players of Minnesota are among the best in the world at what they do and now they'll have an opportunity to play professionally. After all, the young girls of this state should be able to dream as big as their brothers. Having Minnesota in the NWHL expands our national footprint and grows our game in so many ways. This is a monumental step for the NWHL.”

The Minnesota Whitecaps were born in 2004, when Jack Brodt and Dwayne Schmidgall raised $20,000 to buy an expansion franchise in the former NWHL. Brodt and Schmidgall founded the team so their daughters, Winny Brodt Brown and Jenny (Schmidgall) Potter, would have a place to play after college. Brown, 40, still plays for the Whitecaps as a co-captain.

When the westernmost teams in that league decided to secede, the Whitecaps joined to form the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL). The Whitecaps played in the WWHL for seven seasons, winning three championships to qualify to compete in the Clarkson Cup against teams from the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). The Whitecaps captured their lone Clarkson Cup at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season.

Since a failed merger between the WWHL and CWHL after the 2010-11 season, the Whitecaps have played an independent schedule, facing national teams, NCAA programs, Shattuck-St. Mary’s and current NWHL teams. Now the Whitecaps become the NWHL’s first expansion franchise and its only team west of New York.

“This is an incredible moment for women’s hockey in Minnesota, and we’re truly excited to become a member club in the NWHL,” Brodt Brown said. “We are determined to have a women's professional team that the hockey fans of Minnesota can be proud of. I’m looking forward to hitting the ice with my teammates and being able to play for the Isobel Cup!”

The Whitecaps will play their debut NWHL season at TRIA Rink, the new, state-of-the-art satellite arena of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. TRIA Rink was the site of the NWHL All-Star Game in February.

Ronda Curtin Engelhardt and Jack Brodt will serve as co-head coaches, and will be joined by assistant coach Laura Slominski.

The Whitecaps will open the 2018-19 season with a pair of games in St. Paul on Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7, against the defending Isobel Cup champion Metropolitan Riveters. The Whitecaps feature 2018 Team USA Olympic gold medalists Hannah Brandt, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein, along with reigning NWHL Goaltender of the Year Amanda Leveille. Brandt, Stecklein and Leveille all starred at the University of Minnesota.

Season tickets for the Whitecaps’ inaugural NWHL season are on sale now at NWHL.zone. Season tickets for the Whitecaps’ eight regular season games are just $150 for general admission seating. In addition, the NWHL is offering a Premier Package for $250 that guarantees fans center-ice seats for all Whitecaps games at TRIA Rink during the season.

Besides savings on tickets, Whitecaps season account holders receive front-of-the-line access to enter games and to participate in the post-game autograph sessions with Whitecaps players after all home games; a private meet-and-greet event; and exclusive discounts on merchandise at the arena.

2018-19 Minnesota Whitecaps Schedule

DATE	TIME (CT)	OPPONENT	LOCATION
Sept. 22	4 p.m.	at Minnesota Duluth (exh.)	Amsoil Arena (Duluth, Minn.)
Oct. 6	4 p.m.	Metropolitan Riveters	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Oct. 7	2 p.m.	Metropolitan Riveters	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Oct. 20	1 p.m.	at Metropolitan Riveters	Barnabas Health Hockey House (Newark, N.J.)
Oct. 21	2 p.m.	at Metropolitan Riveters	Barnabas Health Hockey House (Newark, N.J.)
Oct. 27	6:30 p.m.	Buffalo Beauts	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Oct. 28	2 p.m.	Buffalo Beauts	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Nov. 3	4 p.m.	at Minnesota Duluth (exh.)	Amsoil Arena (Duluth, Minn.)
Dec. 1	6:30 p.m.	Boston Pride	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Dec. 2	2 p.m.	Boston Pride	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Dec. 29	1 p.m.	at Buffalo Beauts	Key Bank Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Dec. 30	12:30 p.m.	at Buffalo Beauts	HarborCenter (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Jan. 5	2:07 p.m.	at Ohio State (exh.)	OSU Ice Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
Jan. 6	12:07 p.m.	at Ohio State (exh.)	OSU Ice Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
Jan. 12	6:30 p.m.	at Boston Pride	Warrior Ice Arena (Boston, Mass.)
Jan. 13	2 p.m.	at Connecticut Whale	Terry Conners Ice Rink (Stamford, Conn.)
Jan. 19	6:30 p.m.	Connecticut Whale	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Jan. 20	2 p.m.	Connecticut Whale	TRIA Rink (St. Paul, Minn.)
Feb. 2	2:07 p.m.	at Minnesota State (exh.)	Verizon Wireless Center (Mankato, Minn.)
March 2	6:30 p.m.	at Boston Pride	Warrior Ice Arena (Boston, Mass.)
March 3	2 p.m.	at Connecticut Whale	Terry Conners Ice Rink (Stamford, Conn.)

2018-19 Minnesota Whitecaps Signings

#	NAME	POSITION	HEIGHT	HOMETOWN	2017-18 TEAM	COLLEGE
2	Lee Stecklein	D	6-0	Roseville, Minn.	U.S. Olympic Team	Minnesota
3	Jonna Curtis	F	5-4	Elk River, Minn.		New Hampshire
6	Kate Schipper	F	5-4	Brooklyn Park, Minn.	Minnesota Whitecaps	Minnesota
8	Amanda Boulier	D	5-1	Watertown, Conn.	Connecticut Whale	St. Lawrence
9	Allie Thunstrom	F	5-5	Maplewood, Minn.	Minnesota Whitecaps	Boston College
10	Brooke White-Lancette	F	5-6	Berkley, Calif	Minnesota Whitecaps	Northeastern
15	Meaghan Pezon	F	5-6	Eden Prairie, Minn.	Minnesota Whitecaps	St. Cloud State
20	Hannah Brandt	F	5-6	Vadnais Heights, Minn.	U.S. Olympic Team	Minnesota
26	Kendall Coyne Schofield	F	5-2	Palos Heights, Ill.	U.S. Olympic Team	Northeastern
29	Amanda Leveille	G	5-7	Kingston, Ont.	Buffalo Beauts	Minnesota
34	Sydney Rossman	G	5-10	Excelsior, Minn.	Connecticut Whale	Quinnipiac
	Lauren Barnes	F	5-8	Eagan, Minn.	Minnesota Whitecaps	Minnesota State
	Julie Friend	G	5-8	Minnetonka, Minn.	Minnesota Whitecaps	St. Cloud State
	Amy Menke	F	5-6	Shakopee, Minn.	Djurgårdens IF	North Dakota
	Emma Stauber	D	5-7	Duluth, Minn.	Minnesota Whitecaps	Minnesota Duluth

2017-18 Minnesota Whitecaps Roster

NAME	POSITION	HEIGHT	HOMETOWN	COLEGE
Alli Altmann	G	5-8	Eagan, Minn.	Minnesota State
Shelby Amsley-Benzie	G	5-7	Warroad, Minn.	North Dakota
Lauren Barnes	F	5-8	Eagan, Minn.	Minnesota State
Ashley Birdsall	F	5-3	Duluth, Minn.	Wisconsin-Superior
Hanna Brodt	F	5-4	Roseville, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Winny Brodt Brown	D/F	5-4	Roseville, Minn.	Minnesota
Lindsey Brown	G	5-9	Mounds View, Minn.	Saint Anselm
Kelly Buchta	D	5-6	Eden Prairie, Minn.	Minnesota
Demi Crossman	F	5-8	Parker, Colo.	Minnesota Duluth
Hillary Crowe	F	6-0	Eden Prairie, Minn.	Harvard
Tanja Eisenschmid	D	5-7	Marktoberdorf, Germany	North Dakota
Anna-Maria Fiegert	D	5-8	Landshut, Germany	Minnesota State
Julie Friend	G	5-8	Excelsior, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Katie Frischmann	F	5-7	Rochester, Minn.	Minnesota
Kalli Funk	F	5-5	Roseville, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Cassi Grander	G	5-6	Forest Lake, Minn.	Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Paige Haley	D/F	5-9	Red Wing, Minn.	Minnesota
Lauren Hespenheide	F	5-1	Shakopee, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Carrie Holldorf	F	5-7	Glenwood City, Wis.	St. Cloud State
Paige Jahnke	D	5-6	Maplewood, Minn.	Penn State
Mira Jalosuo	D	6-0	Lieksa, Finland	Minnesota
Rachael Kelly	F	5-5	Rosemount, Minn.	Bemidji State
Becky Kortum	F	5-7	Minnetonka, Minn.	Minnesota
Margo Lund	F	5-9	White Bear Lake, Minn.	New Hampshire
Kari Lundberg	F	5-7	Woodbury, Minn.	Minnesota State
Sadie Lundquist	F	5-5	Cloquet, Minn.	Bemidji State
Lisa Martinson	D	5-5	St. Louis Park, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Marley McMillan	F	5-4	St. Paul, Minn.	Dartmouth
Amy Menke	F	5-6	Shakopee, Minn.	North Dakota
Meaghan Pezon	F	5-6	Eden Prairie, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Annelise Rice	F	5-7	Excelsior, Minn.	North Dakota
Chelsey Rosenthal	D	5-4	Roseville, Minn.	Minnesota
Kate Schipper	F	5-4	Brooklyn Park, Minn.	Minnesota
Haylea Schmid	F	5-7	Coon Rapids, Minn.	St. Cloud State
Shyler Sletta	G	5-5	Elko New Market, Minn.	Minnesota
Emma Stauber	D	5-7	Duluth, Minn.	Minnesota Duluth
Amy Stech	F	5-10	Duluth, Minn.	Maine
Allie Thunstrom	F	5-5	Maplewood, Minn.	Boston College
Brooke White-Lancette	F	5-6	Berkley, Calif.	Northeastern
Angela Zevnik	D	5-6	Greenfield, Wis.	Saint Anselm

Minnesota Whitecaps History

2004-11	WESTERN WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE
YEAR	W-L-T	GF	GA	FINISH	WWHL PLAYOFFS	CLARKSON CUP
2004-05	8-3-1	34	23	2nd	Lost in 1st round	n/a
2005-06	11-8-5	79	65	3rd	Lost in final	n/a
2006-07	13-9-1	74	64	3rd	Lost in final	n/a
2007-08	15-6-1	70	50	2nd	Lost in final	n/a
2008-09	18-3-1	181	44	2nd	Champions	Lost in final
2009-10	10-2-0	44	24	1st	Champions	Champions
2010-11	17-1-0	120	43	1st	Champions	0-3

2011-18	INDEPENDENT
2015-16	6-6-0 overall, 2-2 vs. NWHL teams
2016-17	10-3-3 overall

2018-	NATIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE
2018-19	Inaugural season in NWHL

Notable Former Whitecaps

NAME	POSITION	NOTE
Caitlin Cahow	D	2-time U.S. Olympian (silver, bronze), 4-time World team member (3 gold, 1 silver)
Lisa Chesson	D	2010 U.S. Olympian (silver), 3-time World team member (2 gold, 1 silver)
Natalie Darwitz	F	3-time U.S. Olympian (2 silver, 1 bronze), 8-time World team member (3 gold, 5 silver), 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
Tricia Dunn-Luoma	F	3-time U.S. Olympian (gold, silver, bronze), 5-time World team member (5 silver)
Molly Engstrom	F	2-time U.S. Olympian (silver, bronze), 6-time World team member (4 gold, 2 silver)
Kristin King	F	2006 U.S. Olympian (bronze), 3-time World team member (1 gold, 2 silver)
Jocelyne Lamoureux	F	3-time U.S. Olympian (1 gold, 2 silver), 7-time World team member (6 gold, 1 silver)
Monique Lamoureux	D	3-time U.S. Olympian (1 gold, 2 silver), 7-time World team member (6 gold, 1 silver)
Gigi Marvin	F	3-time U.S. Olympian (1 gold, 2 silver), 7-time World team member (5 gold, 2 silver)
Caroline Oullette	F	4-time Canadian Olympian (4 gold), 12-time World team member (6 gold, 6 silver)
Jenny Potter	F	4-time U.S. Olympian (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), 10-time World team member (4 gold, 6 silver)
Manon Rhéaume	G	1998 Canadian Olympian (silver), 2-time World team member (2 gold)
Angela Ruggiero	D	4-time U.S. Olympian (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), 10-time World team member (4 gold, 6 silver)
Anne Schleper	D	2014 U.S. Olympan (silver), 3-time World team member (3 gold, 1 silver)
Karen Thatcher	F	2010 U.S. Olympian (silver), 2-time World team member (2 gold)
Jessie Vetter	G	2-time U.S. Olympian (2 silver), 8-time World team member (6 gold, 2 silver)
Krissy Wendell	F	2-time U.S. Olympian (silver, bronze), 6-time World team member (1 gold, 5 silver)
Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej	F	2010 U.S. Olympian (silver), 2007 World team member (silver)

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