LOCAL SPORTS 6-4-26

HEISE, PANNEK SIGN EXTENSIONS WITH THE FROST

The Minnesota Frost announced Tuesday that forwards Taylor Heise and Kelly Pannek have been re-signed to three year PWHL Standard Player Agreements through the 2028-29 season. The signings are the first two of three protected players as part of the PWHL's Expansion Roster Distribution Process ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Heise, who turned 26 in March, had a career best 30 points with 13 goals and 17 assists in 30 regular season games for the Frost. The Lake City, Minnesota native was the Ms. Minnesota Hockey winner her senior year with Red Wing High School in 2018. She won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top women's college player with The Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2022. Heise was the first overall pick in the inaugural PWHL draft in 2023 and won the Ilana Koss Playoff MVP in 2024 in leading the Frost to the Walter Cup title. Heise helped the Frost to another PWHL title in 2025. She made her Olympic debut in February in Milano Cortina and assisted on the game winning overtime goal in the Gold Medal win over Canada.

The 30 year-old Pannek led the Frost and the PWHL with a single-season record of 33 points in 30 games this past season. The Plymouth, Minnesota native is a three time Olympian and two time gold medalist. Like Heise, Pannek was a standout for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning back-to-back NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016.