Minnesota Frost win their second PWHL championship, going overtime again to defeat the Ottawa Charge

A year ago, the Frost brought the inaugural Walter Cup trophy rattling home from Boston on their equipment truck.

On Monday, they joyously hoisted it across the Xcel Energy Center ice — delighting 11,024 fans and family and friends alike — after they won a PWHL championship for the second consecutive season in a league that has had only two of them.

The Frost beat Ottawa midway through overtime in Game 4, winning their best-of-five PWHL Finals series 3-1.

They did so by the same 2-1 score that settled all four games, every one in overtime, too, to become the PWHL’s repeat and only champion.

Fourth-line forward and former Ohio State star by way of Mound, Minn., Liz Schepers rapped a puck home from right in front of the net at 12:00 of overtime to win a second championship. Linemates Katy Knoll — the hero in triple-OT on Saturday — and Klara Hymlarova assisted for a line that was its team’s best Monday and through most of the playoffs.

Schepers also scored the game-winner in last year’s PWHL Finals, getting the first goal in a 3-0 clinching Game 5 in Boston.

“A little surreal,” she said about this time around. “I would have been happy with anyone scoring, but we were so happy to be here, to win here in front of our fans. Being from Minnesota, it’s really special. I always have a ton of family and friends. I don’t take that for granted. I was really happy we were able to get it done today.”

Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips was named playoffs MVP with spectacular performances and a 1.23 goals-against average, a .952 save percentage and four postseason wins in eight starts.

Frost coach Ken Klee didn’t quibble with the choice.

“She was unreal,” Klee said. “Three of our four games, it she doesn’t play the way she played, I don’t think we go to overtime in any of them. We outchanced them 2-1. We put everything on her that we could. She was phenomenal.”

Last year, the Frost celebrated on that same ice in another Finals Game 4 a would-be series-winning goal that was wiped away by a video review after players had streamed onto the ice. Boston scored shortly thereafter to send the series back for Game 5, which the Frost won convincingly.

Players were reminded not to celebrate on the ice until a goal had been ruled final. It turned out to be more of a guideline than a rule.

“Just a little better this year,” Frost assistant captain Kelly Pannek said. “Not to throw our procedures under the bus, but we were supposed to wait for it to be called a goal after last year. I think a lot of us said, ‘We’re going to go.’ Luckily, there’s no controversy about it.”

Pannek scored a first-period goal that was the Frost’s first in the first period all series.

“We never talked about what happened last year,” Pannek said. “We knew how special it is to win anything. To celebrate in Boston with just the people closest to you is special. It’s also special to celebrate here with all the fans who stick with you through three overtimes.”

The team opened up club-level seating to accommodate a holiday afternoon crowd that was announced at 11,024. The Frost drew 8,098 for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.

One of those in attendance Monday was Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

GAME SUMMARY: Frost 2, Ottawa 1 (OT)

Women’s sports legend and PWHL advisory committee member Billie Jean King awarded the trophy to Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, who was instrumental in the league’s founding. Advisory member Stan Kasten, hockey operations head Jayna Hefford and PWHL co-founder Kimbra Walter, wife of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and together primary owners of the league, all attended Monday’s game.

Coyne Schofield skated around the rink first, the Walter Cup held high. Lee Stecklein, Pannek, Maddie Rooney, Nicole Hensley and Schepers went next, followed by others. Coyne Schofield also skated with her young son, Drew.

Loved ones joined in the on-ice celebration. Another celebration likely will be held this week at Xcel Energy Center.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Coyne Schofield said. “It has been a special year. Like any year, there are highs and lows, ebbs and flows. It’s a long season. It’s a grind. It’s hard to win. It’s hard to win back-to-back. I’m just happy with this group. When you look at the way we won, it takes everyone. That was the same last year, and it’s no different this year.”