“Proven winner,” “dynamic defender,” and “instrumental.” PWHL Vancouver knew what they were getting when they signed former Minnesota Frost defender Sophie Jaques this offseason. The Frost, looking for their third-straight Walter Cup win, are now left to find someone to fill her skates this upcoming season. A task that is easier said than done.
Since Minnesota traded forward Susanna Tapani and defender Abby Cook for Jaques with the Boston Fleet, the former Ohio State Buckeye has continued to be an instrumental part of the PWHL’s first dynasty. Last season, Jaques was tied for second in most regular-season points for the Frost with seven goals and 15 assists in 25 games. In 2024, she was fourth on the roster in points with two goals and eight assists in 15 games.
While Jaques’ play in the regular season was crucial for the Frost, it was her play in the postseason that cemented her place as a key pillar on the roster. In 18 total playoff games with the Frost, the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner tallied four goals and eight assists.
2025 Top 25 Under 25: Sophie Jaques (2) https://t.co/KPkdNUCUPZ
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) September 25, 2025
Jaques’ departure will sting, but the Frost will still have defender Lee Stecklein returning to the blueline in 2025-2026. The veteran Minnesota native will continue to be a leader for the defense, and be a linchpin for the entire operation.
Looking to add help to their blueline, the Frost signed Minnetonka, MN native Sidney Morin prior to the draft. Her stats from her time with the Boston Fleet are far from Jaques’, with four goals and eight assists in 54 career games. However, Morin’s presence in the locker room and on the ice should provide additional veteran leadership thanks to her experience with the U.S. Olympic team and the Minnesota Whitecaps of the PHF.
The 2025 draft class for Minnesota is headlined by first-round pick Kendal Cooper out of Quinnipiac University, who had 116 points (33G, 83A) in her collegiate career. The Frost quickly signed the former Bobcat to a two-year contract. The Frost also drafted defenders Ava Rinker out of the University of Connecticut in the fourth round, and Brooke Becker from Providence College in the sixth round. However, neither currently appears on the Frost’s preseason roster yet and their contract signings have not been announced either.
According to Frost General Manager Melissa Caruso, Cooper “will be an immediate contributor to our blueline,” and she will need to be as she’ll likely see plenty of ice time right out of the gate.
When Jaques became a part of the PWHL’s first-ever trade, her future as a professional was in doubt. “A great college player does not always make a good professional player,” The Ice Garden wrote at the time. After her play in Minnesota’s path to repeating championships, the Frost has come out on top of that historic trade.
Guess who’s back? Three numbers that indicate Grace Zumwinkle is poised for a resurgence https://t.co/cHlBAVVQnh
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) September 30, 2025
Finding another defender like Sophie Jaques will always be a GM’s dream, but for the Frost, they need to find a new star quickly. Heading into the new season, their blueline may not light up the statsheet without Jaques, but the Frost’s chances at hoisting the Walter Cup again are still favorable, thanks to the returning star power on offense and between the posts.
Winning league titles back-to-back-to-back is a nigh impossible accomplishment, but fans’ confidence in the Frost to do it should still be high heading into the upcoming season. However, the Frost still have work to do with their rookie defenders before the journey back to the Walter Cup can begin.
