LOWELL — The first-ever Walter Cup won’t be staying in Massachusetts.
After pushing the first-ever Professional Women’s Hockey League Walter Cup Finals to a deciding fifth game with a double-overtime victory in Game 4, the magic ran out for Boston as they fell, 2-0, to Minnesota at the Tsongas Center in Lowell in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,309 on Wednesday night.
Regardless of which team on the ice took home the first-ever Walter Cup trophy, the night was a massive win for the PWHL as a whole. The Tsongas Center was sold out, with tickets for the deciding fifth game going for thousands of dollars on resale sites. Fans weren’t allowed up to the concourse until an hour before the game, but that didn’t stop a huge crowd from packing in the lobby of the Tsongas Center, decked out in green (and a few in Minnesota purple). Fans packed the many merch tables throughout the concourse, though many came with their own PWHL jerseys.
“It’s tough when you lose, especially Game 5 at home in front of these amazing fans,” Boston captain Hilary Knight said. “All we were doing [in the locker room] was reflecting on how proud we are of this group, how we preserved no matter the odds, how we fought. This year was an historic year, it was tough, no players ever did this before. We built it and were ecstatic about where it is after year one.”
Minnesota dominated the offensive zone, outshooting Boston 44-17 for the game. Aerin Frankel, who had her name chanted by the sold-out crowd at least once per period and at the end of the game as Minnesota celebrated, racked up 41 saves on 43 shots.
Lexi Adzija had an opportunity to score in the opening minutes, but Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley made a kick save to end the threat. Minnesota outshot Boston 9-7 in the opening stanza, with Boston getting a few good looks early.
A little over six minutes into the second period, Minnesota’s Sydney Brodt found her teammate Liz Schepers across the crease and Schepers tapped it home past Frankel’s right as she moved across the goal.
Minnesota had been putting pressure on Frankel all period, outshooting Boston 4-1 in the second before finding the back of the net. They nearly had their second goal with four minutes left in the second. With Frankel trying to get across the net to make the save, Taylor Heisey got off a shot that was blocked by Susanna Tapani.
A few minutes later, Frankel made an impressive stick save on a shot from Sophia Kunin.
Boston’s Emily Brown gave the home team its best chance to score in the second period with just a minute left to go, getting off a pair of shots, her second coming as the buzzer sounded.
A little under midway through the third and Minnesota truly found their groove offensively. They launched four shots at Frankel within 40 seconds with Brodt, Clair DeGeorge, Taylor Heise and Northeastern University product Kendall Coyne Schofield peppering the Boston netminder and keeping the defense off balance. Finally, Michaela Cava broke through a scrum in the front of the net, scoring her fourth goal of the postseason and putting Game 5 just about out of reach for Boston. Mellissa Channell and Heise earned the assists.
“To be honest, I thought we ran out of steam,” Boston coach Courtney Kessel said.
More bad luck came Boston’s way with 11 minutes to go in the final period as Kaleigh Fratkin got hit with the game’s first penalty, giving Minnesota the only power play of the night, but Boston killed it without issue.
Minnesota kept the pressure on, outshooting Boston 19-3 in the final period. Frankel was pulled for an extra skater with a few minutes to go, and Coyne Schofield put the game on ice with Minnesota’s third and final goal.
Minnesota’s Heise was awarded MVP, leading the team with five goals and three assists in the playoffs. The vast majority of the Tsongas Center crowd stayed for the trophy presentation, chanting “Thank you Boston” before the home team left the ice.
“It was pretty emotional, pretty special what we had here,” Boston’s Jamie Lee Rattray said. “Obviously we wanted to win on home ice but they stuck with us. They were loud, they showed up, we’re super grateful for them…they’re a special group and I hope they keep coming to support us.”
