2025 Walter Cup Final Preview: Ottawa Charge vs. Minnesota Frost
The 2025 Walter Cup Final features the defending champion Minnesota Frost against the first Canadian finalist in PWHL history, the Ottawa Charge.
The defending champions return. The league’s first Canadian finalist has arrived. The Walter Cup is on the line. For the second straight year, the PWHL Finals will feature the league’s third and fourth-place teams, but this time a new chapter is being written.
The Minnesota Frost are back in the Final, aiming to defend their 2024 title. The Ottawa Charge, in their first-ever playoff appearance, are making history as the first Canadian team to reach this stage. They’ve taken down the top seed. Now, they’ll look to take the Cup.
Finals Schedule
Ottawa Charge (3) vs. Minnesota Frost (4)
| Game | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tues, May 20 | Minnesota @ Ottawa | 7:00 PM | TD Place |
| 2 | Thurs, May 22 | Minnesota @ Ottawa | 7:00 PM | TD Place |
| 3 | Sat, May 24 | Ottawa @ Minnesota | 5:00 PM | Xcel Energy Center |
| *4 | Mon, May 26 | Ottawa @ Minnesota | 5:00 PM | Xcel Energy Center |
| *5 | Wed, May 28 | Minnesota @ Ottawa | 7:00 PM | TD Place |
*If necessary
How They Got Here
Ottawa
The Charge took down the regular-season champion Montréal Victoire in four games, capping the series with a 2–1 win at home on Friday. Rebecca Leslie scored early, Emily Clark buried the winner, and rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips stayed composed under pressure. It was Ottawa’s fifth win in six games, and another example of how they’ve leaned into structure, confidence, and team-first execution.
“We had to start playing our best hockey to make the playoffs,” said captain Brianne Jenner at the virtual availability on May 17th. “We had some high pressure situations where we rose to the challenge.”
Minnesota
The Frost rallied from two goals down in Game 4 to eliminate the Toronto Sceptres in overtime, with Taylor Heise scoring the winner. The Frost are now back in the Final, and once again, they’re peaking at the right time.
“We expect a hard-fought, challenging series,” said Coyne Schofield. “Every game is a tough game, and it'll be no different.”
Players to Watch
Ottawa – Brianne Jenner
This is what she does. Ottawa’s captain has been everything in these playoffs, steady, physical, and quietly dominant in all three zones. Jenner’s leadership was crucial in Ottawa’s tight, low-scoring series against Montréal, and she’s been instrumental in helping rookie Philips settle in as the starter. She’s played on the biggest stages in the world, and now she’s chasing a Walter Cup.
Minnesota – Lee Stecklein
Stecklein has been a two-way force for the Frost through the postseason, logging massive minutes and contributing offensively at a level not often seen from her. Through four playoff games, she has six points (3G, 3A), a +1 rating, and has averaged over 26 minutes of ice time per night, including a 32:41 marathon in Game 4. Her breakout game came in Minnesota’s Game 2 win, where she scored twice and added an assist.
Key Storylines
Minnesota – The Repeat Mentality
With an experienced core and depth throughout the lineup, the Frost are built for playoff hockey. From Coyne Schofield to Heise to Stecklein, this group has been through high-pressure moments at every level, and their focus now is on doing the little things right.
“It comes down to details, habits, playing the right way,” said Coyne Schofield. “The most important shift is the next shift right in front of you.”
Head coach Ken Klee echoed the approach: “If you're not sharp and you don't play well, it's going to be hard to win. We're focused on one shift at a time, one period at a time, one game at a time.”
Ottawa – The Rise of a First-Time Finalist
The Charge have found their identity at the right time. Their depth has stepped up, their structure has held firm. It’s been a steady build: not a single turning point, but a collective climb.
“We’ve just been trying to get better and better every chance we get,” said head coach Carla MacLeod. “You look at the back half of our season, that’s where we started to create some momentum and belief.”
After getting selected as an opponent to kick off the playoffs, Ottawa is now the last Canadian team standing, and hosting Game 1 of the Walter Cup Final.
Prediction
Minnesota has experience, depth, and the title to defend. But Ottawa just took down the league’s best team, and looked better each game they played.
If the Charge stick to their structure and Philips continues her playoff run, they can push the defending champs to the brink.
Charge in 5.
They’ve made history already. But they’re not finished.
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