The State of Women's Hockey: Minnesota wins 3-0 in PWHL home opener
13,316 attend, a record for pro women's hockey
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Updated Jan. 7, 8:48 a.m. | Posted Jan 6, 5:03 p.m.
Minnesota likes to call itself the “The State of Hockey.”
On Saturday, just outside the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Acadia Olson, a 10-year-old from Minneapolis, had other ideas. She’s changed the moniker to “The State of Women’s Hockey.”
Truth be told, Acadia’s mother, Brianne Olson, made the sign. Still, Acadia was proud to carry it. Acadia plays left wing for Hiawatha School Park in Minneapolis. Brianne Olson has already done the math on when Acadia might play for Minnesota’s PWHL franchise.
“I think she’d skate in 2036, after college,” said Brianne Olson. “We’re just really excited women have a chance to play. They’re just really great players. We watched the game on YouTube on Wednesday and it’s just a blast.”
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The announced attendance for Saturday’s game, which Minnesota won by a score of 3-0 over Montreal, was 13,316, a record for the most people ever to attend a professional women’s hockey game, according to the PWHL.
The previous record, 8,318 was set Tuesday at the sold-out Arena at TD Place in Ottawa to watch Montreal earn a 3-2 win in overtime on Tuesday.
“Living in the State of Hockey, I knew our fans would show up for us, but today they have taken it to a whole new level,” said Natalie Darwitz, PWHL Minnesota General Manager. “I feel tremendously proud and inspired by our fan support.”
Also at the game was Annamary Dean, a hockey diehard. Outside the Xcel, she was dressed in warm clothes and a green Minnesota North Stars scarf. Dean also carried a “GO MN NICE” sign.
I’m excited to see the growth of women’s sports in the state,” said Amanda Hancer of Eden Prairie. “I love supporting all the local Minnesota teams. I’m happy to have a new one, especially with all the home grown talent.”
When asked if she had a favorite player, Hancer mentioned Taylor Heise as a possibility, noting she “killed it” in the team’s game against Boston earlier this week, scoring a goal.
Zumwinkle, Rooney shine for Minnesota
Grace Zumwinkle scored the first hat trick in the Professional Women's Hockey League and Maddie Rooney earned the shutout as Minnesota won its home opener.
Zumwinkle, who scored a goal in the season opener in Boston, is from Excelsior, Minn. and played her collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota. Rooney, from Duluth, played collegiately at the University of Minnesota-Duluth before winning a gold medal in goal for the United States at the 2018 Olympic Games.
Montreal pushed and set the pace for the game early and had three power plays without committing a penalty through the first two periods, outshooting Minnesota 21-12, but trailed 1-0 to start the third period.
Zumwinkle backhanded a shot past Ann-Renée Desbiens with 2:39 left in the first period, beating the 2022 gold medalist for Canada to her stick side. After a scoreless second period Zumwinkle skated to the top of the slot and rocketed a shot past Desbien at the 1:47 mark of the third and added an empty net goal at 17:13 of the period.
Montreal did not get a shot on goal through the first 11 minutes of the third period. Desbiens finished with 19 saves on 21 shots. Rooney stopped all 24 Montreal shots on goal.
Montreal plays at New York and Minnesota plays host to Toronto Wednesday.
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