Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

2025 PWHL Finals


The 2025 PWHL Finals was the championship series of the Professional Women's Hockey League 2024–25 PWHL season and the culmination of the 2025 PWHL playoffs. The winners of the semifinals, the Ottawa Charge and the Minnesota Frost competed in a best-of-five series to determine the league's champion and winner of the Walter Cup. The Frost defeated the Charge in four games to win their second consecutive Walter Cup, with each game going into overtime, and the score being 2–1.

The series began on May 20. The Charge had home-ice advantage in the series as the team with the better regular season record. Both teams had 44 points in the regular season, however Ottawa earned a higher ranking due to having more regulation wins than Minnesota.

It was the second straight season that both teams heading into the final were the lower ranked seeds in the semifinals.

In the regular season, the two teams played each other six times, with both teams winning three games.

This was Minnesota's second straight Finals appearance, having won the Walter Cup in 2024 in the league's inaugural season. In 2024, they defeated PWHL Boston 3 games to 2 to win the league's championship.

The Frost finished the regular season with 44 points, with a record 10 regulation wins, 5 overtime wins, 4 overtime losses and 11 regulation losses. This earned them the fourth and final playoff spot, which they earned in their final regular season game against the Boston Fleet, whom they defeated 8–1.

Despite finishing fourth in the regular season, the Frost played off against the second place Toronto Sceptres in the semifinal, as the number one Montreal Victoire chose the third place Ottawa Charge as their playoff opponents. In the semifinals, the Frost defeated the Sceptres three games to one to earn their trip to the Finals.

The City of Ottawa temporarily renamed a section of Bank Street "Charge Avenue" in honour of the team's playoff run

The Ottawa Charge made the playoffs for the first time in 2025, having failed to make it in the league's inaugural season.

The Charge finished the season with 44 points, with a record of 12 regulation wins, 2 overtime wins, 4 overtime losses and 12 regulation losses. This earned them third place in the regular season standings. The team earned their playoff spot in their final regular season game against the Toronto Sceptres, thanks to an overtime goal by Kateřina Mrázová, giving the Charge a 2–1 victory.

Despite the Charge finishing third in the regular season, the first place Montreal Victoire chose Ottawa as their semifinal opponents. The Charge went on to upset the Victoire in four games. The Charge's only loss was in a marathon game held on Mother's Day, which Montreal won at 15:54 in the fourth overtime, the longest game in PWHL history.

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5Column 6Column 7Column 8Column 9
May 20Minnesota Frost1–2OTOttawa ChargeTD Place ArenaRecap

The Ottawa Charge gather around centre ice after winning game 1

Ottawa's Rebecca Leslie got the series' first goal midway through the second period of game 1 to give the Charge a 1–0 lead. She scored on Minnesota net minder Nicole Hensley who was partially screened by teammate Lee Stecklein. In the third, Ottawa's goaltender Gwyneth Philips mishandled the puck, turning it over to Minnesota's Katy Knoll, who quickly passed it to Klára Hymlárová who scored in the vacant net to tie the game. The game then headed into overtime with both teams knotted at one. In overtime, Ottawa's Emily Clark came down the wing, scoring the game winner, just 2:47 into the frame. With the win, the Charge extended their perfect playoff record on home ice, having won all three games. For Minnesota, it was the fourth time they had lost a series opener, having never won a game 1 in franchise history.

Scoring summary
None
OTTRebecca Leslie (2)Tereza Vanišová (3), Jocelyne Larocque (2)11:341–0 OTT
MINKlára Hymlárová (1)Katy Knoll (2)5:241–1
OTTEmily Clark (2)Unassisted2:472–1 OTT
Penalty summary
OTTStephanie MarkowskiSlashing07:452:00
MINMichela CavaHooking13:232:00
OTTTereza VanišováIllegal Body Checking09:232:00
MINDominique PetrieHooking18:242:00
MINKelly PannekHolding13:522:00
OTTRebecca LeslieCross Checking13:522:00
None
Shots by period
41110126
963119
Power play opportunities
Minnesota0/2
Ottawa0/2
Three star selections
1stOTTEmily Clark1 goal
2ndOTTGwyneth Philips25 saves
3rdOTTRebecca Leslie1 goal
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5Column 6Column 7Column 8Column 9
May 22Minnesota Frost2–1OTOttawa ChargeTD Place ArenaRecap
Scoring summary
None
None
OTTJocelyne Larocque (1)Anna Meixner (2), Rebecca Leslie (1)17:251–0 OTT
MINBritta Curl-Salemme (2) – ppClaire Thompson (3), Lee Stecklein (4)19:441–1
MINBritta Curl-Salemme (3)Mellissa Channell-Watkins (4), Claire Thompson (4)16:242–1 MIN
Penalty summary
OTTTereza VanišováHolding04:322:00
OTTRonja SavolainenIllegal Body Checking09:092:00
MINMichela CavaTripping11:162:00
OTTTaylor HouseTripping14:222:00
MINClaire ThompsonInterference01:422:00
OTTTereza VanišováHooking06:342:00
OTTTereza VanišováTripping19:232:00
None
Shots by period
3610524
8166838
Power play opportunities
Minnesota1/5
Ottawa0/2
Three star selections
1stMINBritta Curl-Salemme2 goals
2ndMINMaddie Rooney37 saves
3rdOTTJocelyne Larocque1 goal
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5Column 6Column 7Column 8Column 9
May 24Ottawa Charge1–23OTMinnesota FrostXcel Energy CenterRecap

The Minnesota Frost gather around centre ice after winning game 3 of the 2025 PWHL Finals.

Scoring summary
OTTEmily Clark (3)Gabbie Hughes (3), Ashton Bell (1)11:381–0 OTT
MINLee Stecklein (4)Claire Thompson (5)2:581–1
None
None
None
MINKaty Knoll (2)Klára Hymlárová (3), Sophie Jaques (5)9:572–1 MIN
Penalty summary
OTTBrianne JennerHolding the stick14:492:00
MINGrace ZumwinkleRoughing08:062:00
MINLee SteckleinHolding03:562:00
OTTJocelyne LarocqueRoughing06:322:00
MINLiz SchepersCross Checking9:172:00
None
OTTRebecca LeslieHooking8:372:00
MINClaire ThompsonCross Checking6:512:00
Shots by period
276511536
10104811447
Power play opportunities
Ottawa0/4
Minnesota0/3
Three star selections
1stMINKaty Knoll1 goal
2ndMINMaddie Rooney35 saves
3rdOTTGwyneth Philips45 saves
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5Column 6Column 7Column 8Column 9
May 26Ottawa Charge1–2OTMinnesota FrostXcel Energy CenterRecap

Kendall Coyne Schofield with Walter Cup 2025

After a scoreless first period, Minnesota's Kelly Pannek put the Frost on the board midway through the second, slotting a goal over the left shoulder of Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips from close range, receiving a cross-ice feed from Claire Thompson. In the third period, the Charge staved off elimination with a goal from Tereza Vanišová, after Danielle Serdachny drove behind the Frost's net and centered the puck, giving Vanišová a chance which she capitalized on, tying the game 1–1 with just under ten minutes to play. In overtime, both teams had chances. 12 minutes into the extra period, Liz Schepers fired a shot from close range that found the net past Philips and secured the Minnesota Frost's second PWHL title in a row.

Scoring summary
None
MINKelly Pannek (2)Claire Thompson (6), Grace Zumwinkle (3)10:101–0 MIN
OTTTereza Vanišová (1)Danielle Serdachny (2), Jocelyne Larocque (3)10:091–1
MINLiz Schepers (2)Katy Knoll (3), Klára Hymlárová (4)12:002–1 MIN
Penalty summary
MINDominique PetrieTripping12:052:00
OTTRonja SavolainenCross checking19:422:00
None
None
OTTGabbie HughesRoughing8:012:00
MINNatalie BuchbinderRoughing08:012:00
Shots by period
12117434
121410238
Power play opportunities
Ottawa0/1
Minnesota0/1
Three star selections
1stMINLiz Schepers1 goal
2ndMINMaddie Rooney33 saves
3rdMINKelly Pannek1 goal
No.NatPlayerPosS/GAgeAcquiredBirthplace
8DR252024Eau Claire, Wisconsin
9DL252024Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
33GL282025Dundee, New Brunswick
17FR252023Linden, California
22DR272023Fairport, New York
7FR262023Andover, Minnesota
86FR322023Thunder Bay, Ontario
23DL312023Oakville, Ontario
26FL332023Palos Heights, Illinois
77FL262024Bismarck, North Dakota
19DL252023Lakeville, Minnesota
27FR262023Lake City, Minnesota
29GL312023Littleton, Colorado
71FL272024Opava, Czech Republic
16DR252024Toronto, Ontario
6FR252024Amherst, New York
41FL312023Horni Cerekev, Czechia
3FL252024Bowmanville, Ontario
11FR242024Atlanta, Georgia
12FR302023Plymouth, Minnesota
14FR252024Hermosa Beach, California
35GL282023Andover, Minnesota
21FL272023Mound, Minnesota
2DL322023Roseville, Minnesota
42DL282024Toronto, Ontario
13FR272023Excelsior, Minnesota
No.NatPlayerPosS/GAgeAcquiredBirthplace
9DL272024Linköping, Sweden
35GR262024Winnipeg, Manitoba
12FL292024Milton, Ontario
21DR262023Deloraine, Manitoba
3DL252023Caledon East, Ontario
26FL302023Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
27FL322024Royal Oak, Michigan
22FL272024Joliet, Illinois
17FL262023Lino Lakes, Minnesota
5FL282024Thunder Bay, Ontario
19FR352023Oakville, Ontario
23DL372024Ste. Anne, Manitoba
37FR302024Ottawa, Ontario
6DR242024Edmonton, Alberta
38GL312023Bruderheim, Alberta
18FR242024Maple Grove, Minnesota
94FL312024Zell am See, Austria
32GR242024Mandan, North Dakota
16FL332023Kolín, Czech and Slovak Federative Republic
33GR252024Athens, Ohio
71DL282023O'Fallon, Missouri
88DL282024Helsinki, Finland
92FR252024Edmonton, Alberta
8FR272023Eagan, Minnesota
2DL302023Prague, Czechia
13FL302024Strakonice, Czechia
10FL272024St. Catharines, Ontario

In Canada, the series aired on TSN in English and RDS in French. In the U.S., the series was shown on FanDuel Sports Network North.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 2025 PWHL Finals — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report