The Minnesota Whitecaps have gone through many changes – both on and off the ice – since the last time you saw them suit up for a game back in March. It was back in the playoffs against Connecticut where the Whitecaps were just a bounce and a goal post away from advancing to their fourth consecutive Isobel Cup Final.
Instead, they were left looking for answers ahead of their fifth season in the PHF (previously named the NWHL) and longtime fans of the team may recognize the numbers they see on the jerseys, but the names will look a little different. There are twelve players new to the Whitecaps and the league on this season’s team, and 14 players on the team who wasn’t on last season’s squad. Also, Jonna Curtis is now Jonna Albers after her off-season wedding (congrats!), so same player, same no. 3, new name.
2022-23 Minnesota Whitecaps roster
Goalies: Amanda Leveille, Jenna Brenneman, Chantal Burke*
Defense: Sidney Morin (A), Emma Stauber, Sydney Baldwin (A), Olivia Knowles, Patti Marshall, Amanda Boulier, Maddie Rowe
Forward: Jonna Albers (A), Brooke Madsen, Natalie Snodgrass, Ronja Mogren, Brittyn Fleming, Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Sydney Brodt (C), Meaghan Pezon, Stephanie Anderson, Anna Klein, Liz Schepers, Denisa Křížová, Olivia Kilberg*
* = practice player
C = captain
A = alternate captain
They also have a new coach, sort of. Ronda Engelhardt is now the sole Head Coach, with Jack Brodt no longer involved with the franchise. As you would imagine, with the departure of the team’s founder also comes the departure of his daughters; the captain, Winny Brodt Brown, and her sister, Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal, as well as other longtime Whitecaps. Brooke White Lancette, Lisa Martinson, Haylea Schmid, Meghan Lorence, Allie Morse, Allie Thunstrom, and Audra Morrison are all gone from last season’s team, with only Thunstrom still playing in the league after signing a two-year deal with Boston.
More than half of the roster are native Minnesotans and half of the roster has played collegiately in Minnesota, so despite the names being different this season, they should be familiar to most fans. Also, games this season will no longer be at TRIA Rink, instead, the Whitecaps now call Richfield Ice Arena home, and all games can be seen on ESPN+ this season.
2022-23 Minnesota Whitecaps schedule (all times CT)
Nov. 5-6: at Toronto Six (1pm, 10am)
Nov. 18-19: vs Boston Pride (7pm. 6pm)
Dec. 3-4: vs Metropolitan Riveters (6pm, 1pm)
Dec. 9-10: at Connecticut Whale (6pm, 1pm)
Dec. 17-18: vs Montreal Force (6pm, 1pm)
Jan. 7-8: at Buffalo Beauts (6pm, 12pm)
Jan. 14-15: at Metropolitan Riveters (2pm, 1pm)
Feb. 4-5: at Montreal Force (12pm, 12pm)
Feb. 18-19: vs Buffalo Beauts (6pm, 1pm)
Feb. 25-26: vs Toronto Six (6pm, 12pm)
Mar. 3-4: at Boston Pride (6pm, 12pm)
Mar. 11-12: vs Connecticut Whale (6pm, 1pm)
This team should be able to score goals, and with Leveille in goal they will always have a chance to win. How quickly they are all able to get on the same page on defense will be a big key to their success. Connecticut and Boston got better and likely so did Toronto, and those are the three teams that the Whitecaps will probably have to go through to get back to the Isobel Cup Final as they pursue their second championship.
Season ticket packages for the 2022-2023 season and single-game tickets for the home opener are still available online now.