The Minnesota Frost made history on May 2, 2026, by securing their first-ever playoff series opening win against the Montréal Victoire, triumphing 5-4 in an exhilarating overtime match at Place Bell.
Laura Stacey shone brightly, scoring the first-ever postseason hat trick in PWHL history. Her performance was pivotal as it not only showcased her talent but also ignited the team’s spirit.
The game reached its climax when Jincy Roese netted the game-winning goal just 4:30 into overtime. This victory was particularly sweet for the Frost, who had previously lost all four of their playoff series openers.
With an impressive crowd of 9,364 fans cheering them on, the atmosphere was electric. The Frost’s recent success has ignited hope among their supporters and transformed the narrative around their playoff potential.
Maddie Rooney played a crucial role in goal for Minnesota, making 21 saves, while Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 24 shots for Montréal. The match featured a total of nine goals, marking it as one of the highest-scoring playoff contests in PWHL history.
“Joining the Frost, it’s really been an honor. This is a great group of girls,” said Roese. “It’s a privilege to be on this team and to get to compete with them.”
The team now leads the best-of-five semifinal series 1-0. Laura Stacey expressed her gratitude towards the fans: “We love playing in front of our fans… we want to do it for ourselves and our team, but we also want to do it for the city and the fans.”
Kori Cheverie, head coach of Minnesota, reflected on their resilience during the match: “I liked our resiliency. I liked our character to keep coming back.”
The next challenge awaits as Game 2 is set for May 5 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT at Place Bell. The stakes are high as both teams aim to secure their place in PWHL history.
