For the second consecutive offseason, the Minnesota Frost have retooled their defender group. In goal, Nicole Hensley has moved on to PWHL Las Vegas, leaving the goaltending situation behind Maddie Rooney unclear.
With training camp inching closer, let’s try to answer some pressing questions facing the Minnesota Frost defense core and goalie group.
Returners to the Minnesota Frost blueline:
The Minnesota Frost return four key defenders from last year’s team. Expect these four to build the foundation of the 2026-2027 Frost blue line.
Lee Stecklein: Holding on to Lee Stecklein once again in expansion was massive for the Minnesota Frost. When she was healthy last season, Stecklein was the Frost’s most consistent defender. According to Giants In The Crease, last season at even strength Stecklein had a plus-six goal differential. Her plus-six goal differential at even strength was among the best in the PWHL. Stecklein led all Frost defenders in average time on ice for the second consecutive season. With plenty of change on the Frost back line again this season, expect to see a heavy dose of Lee Stecklein on the ice for the Frost in 2026-2027.
Natalie Buchbinder: Natalie Buchbinder was quietly one of the Frost’s best defenders during the regular season. Buchbinder’s offensive numbers don’t jump off the page: one goal and one assist through 25 games. However, Buchbinder defended well and contributed to plenty of offense while she was on the ice. According to Giants In The Crease, she finished the year with a .69% goals for percentage at even strength. Her plus 11 even-strength goal differential was best among Frost defenders. Only the Boston Fleet’s Megan Keller had a higher even-strength goal differential at +13.
Sidney Morin: Sidney Morin was one of only two Frost defenders to play in all 30 games last season. Across 30 games, Morin tallied a career-high eight assists and tied a career high in points. Morin didn’t score in the regular season, but she was a difference maker for the Frost in the playoffs. She scored four goals in five games against the Montréal Victoire, including a two-goal game in Game Four. Morin could be the beneficiary of more time on the power-play with Cooper and Batherson gone, a role that Morin is well suited for.
Brooke Becker: 2025 sixth-round pick Brooke Becker played in 27 games for the Frost in her rookie season, averaging 12:03 minutes per night. Becker was a solid contributor to the Frost back line last season, bringing a physical presence. At times last season, her physical play led to penalty troubles; Becker led all Minnesota Frost defenders in penalty minutes during the regular season. Don’t expect Becker’s physical game to change, but look for her to balance that physicality with less time in the box.
Newcomers to the Frost blueline:
The Minnesota Frost picked up two defenders from the WCHA in the 2026 PWHL draft. The Frost selected Ohio State’s Sara Swiderski in round one. In round four, they took Minnesota Duluth defender Tova Henderson.
Sara Swiderski: Swiderski’s calling card is her skating and her defensive game. I’d expect Swiderski’s skating and defending ability to translate to the PWHL level right away. Offensively, Swiderski’s numbers in college were not quite at the level of what Kendall Cooper or Mae Batherson produced. Even if Swiderski’s doesn’t match Kendall Cooper’s historic rookie season offensively, don’t be surprised to see Swiderski get a ton of ice time for the Frost in year one. Last season, Cooper finished the year second behind only Lee Stecklein in average time on ice for the Frost. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Swiderski in a similar spot in her rookie season.
Tova Henderson: Fourth-round pick Tova Henderson profiles as a defensive defender. Henderson didn’t put up gaudy offensive numbers at UMD, but she led all Bulldog defenders in plus-minus in her final collegiate season. Henderson is a physical defender who could benefit from the increased physicality in the PWHL compared to college hockey. If Henderson can jump into the Frost lineup and be dependable defensively, I’d imagine the Frost will be very happy.
Who will be the third goalie?
For the first time in franchise history, the Minnesota Frost will not have the duo of Maddie Rooney and Nicole Hensley in net. Hensley’s departure to PWHL Las Vegas this offseason leaves a big hole in the Frost net behind Maddie Rooney.
Heading into training camp, Minnesota has a couple of options to fill that spot: 2026 fifth-round pick Daria Gredzen and last year’s third goaltender, Marlène Boissonnault. Both players are relatively inexperienced in the PWHL game. Boissonnault did spend last season with the Frost, but she only made one start late in the season against the Vancouver Goldeneyes.
Gredzen, on the other hand, has plenty of experience, just not in the PWHL. The 22-year-old has been a standout in the Russian league for several seasons. She also represented Russia in the 2022 Olympic Games at just 17 years old. Gredzen has all the tools, but she’s untested in the PWHL.
If I had to guess, I’d expect Boissonnault and Gredzen to split the backup starts at the beginning of the season. Gredzen might have more upside long term, but Boissonnault’s experience with the Frost could give her the edge early on.
It will also be worth keeping a close eye on how Frost head coach Ken Klee splits the goaltending duties. In the past three seasons, both Rooney and Hensley made double digit starts in the regular season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rooney start the majority of games next season, as Minnesota could choose to lean more heavily on their most experienced option.
