Hannah Brandt to practice with Wild as part of Girls’ Hockey Weekend

Who else might we see on the ice with NHL teams in the future?

As part of Girls’ Hockey Weekend, Minnesota Whitecaps player Hannah Brandt will practice with the Minnesota Wild on Friday. Dec. 14.

This year is the third annual Girls’ Hockey Weekend. The Whitecaps are included in the weekend in other ways outside of Brandt: the Split the Pot raffle will support the team and help lead youth clinics.

It is not the first time the Whitecaps have been involved in Girls’ Hockey Weekend with the Wild. Last season, they also led youth clinics. The Wild has supported the Whitecaps since their inception in 2004. This season the NHL team will provide “far-ranging support.”


The Minnesota Wild have partnered with the Minnesota Whitecaps


This isn’t the first time a female player has practiced with an NHL team during Girls’ Hockey Weekend. In 2014, Hilary Knight practiced with the Wild and Anne Schleper with the Lightning.

Outside of Girls’ Hockey Weekend, in 2014, current Buffalo Beaut goaltender Shannon Szabados filled in at an Edmonton Oiler’s practice. Hayley Wickenheiser participated in the Philadelphia Flyers rookie camp in 1998 and 1999. And, of course, in 1992, Manon Rheaume was the goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning during an exhibition game.

Given that numerous CWHL and NWHL teams have partnerships with NHL teams, hopefully this isn’t the last time we see a female player on the ice with the men’s team. Can you imagine Marie Philip Poulin or Ann-Sophie Bettez or Mélodie Daoust on the ice with the Canadiens? Or Megan Bozek with the Maple Leafs? Or Alexa Gruschow or Amanda Kesssel with the Devils?