Minnesota has a champion to celebrate. But it’s been such a whirlwind since Wednesday’s PWHL championship winning game at Boston, that many of the Minnesota players don't even know what day it is.
Fans of Minnesota’s women’s professional hockey team get a chance to celebrate their championship at the Xcel Energy Center Friday night with those who’ve supported them all season.
Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney says their own celebrating hasn’t stopped since that 3-0 victory.
"It's been a whirlwind," says Rooney. "I mean, what day is it? Friday now? We won on Wednesday. I mean, it's just kind of been a blur with the travel yesterday, the late night celebration after Wednesday and then, like I said, looking forward to what's to come today."
Rooney says she doesn’t know when the postgame celebration ended, but acknowledges that it was pretty late.
Forward and Plymouth, MN native Kelly Pannek doesn’t know what to expect.
"This is kind of like the first of its kind, which is something special winning as a pro team in Minnesota," says Pannek. "Hopefully the fans show out like they have all year for us and able to celebrate with them."
Goalie Nicole Hensley says it's really important to have a big splash Friday night.
"We see a lot of parades of men's teams that win and how much fun they get to have," Hensley says. "So, for us to get to do something similar, I think it's really important to show young girls that just like this whole league, that's what it's all been about. There is something to aspire to."
Friday's event will also be the first public appearance of the Walter Cup, the trophy that goes to the league champions.
The celebration Friday will take place from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at 317 on Rice Park Plaza (near the Herb Brooks Statue). The event will feature the entire PWHL Minnesota team and staff, a proclamation from St. Paul Deputy Mayor Jaimee Tincher, a DJ and more.