New Brunswick hockey player Marlene Boissonault never believed she’d be hoisting “something equivalent” to the Stanley Cup.
“I’m thrilled. It’s a very unique feeling,” she said.
“Right now, it’s just about enjoying the moment.”
Boissonault was called up to the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Minnesota Frost around two months ago.
On Monday, the Frost won its second back-to-back Walter Cup, beating out the Ottawa Charge 2-1 in overtime of Game 4.
“There was a very strong purpose for the entire team to make sure that we proved the point,” she said.
“We call it Minnesota against the world.”
New Brunswick hockey player Marlene Bossoinnault is a reserve goalie for the Minnesota Frost, winners of the 2025 Professional Women’s Hockey League championship. She says she’s thrilled with the win and the global recognition the PWHL is getting.
Boissonault, originally from Dundee, N.B., is third goaltender for the Frost so she didn’t play in the playoffs, but she practiced with the team and was on the ice for the presentation of the coveted Walter Cup.
Last season, Boissonault was Montreal’s third goaltender, but didn’t make the team this season out of training camp.
But she kept training and after the trade deadline, when Minnesota’s third goaltender was claimed by another team, the opportunity arose for her to join the Frost.
The PWHL, which had its first game in January 2024, is expanding with new teams debuting in Seattle and Vancouver next season. Each existing team will lose four players through expansion.
“Nobody in the league is really kind of guaranteed a spot next year yet, in terms of on the same teams, with the two expansions that we have,” Boissonault said.
“So everybody has a unique goal that they’re going to be, you know, forging here in the summer.
“Everybody obviously wants a spot for next year to be able to continue having those dreams and for me, myself, I’m included in that pack.”
Boissonault said she’s happy women’s hockey is finally getting the traction it deserves — not only when it comes to the live broadcasts, but also at the grassroots level.
“You have young girls that come up to us and want autographs and photos, and now they say they want to play in the PWHL one day,” she said.
“It’s new dreams that we’re able to get created that we didn’t have growing up.”
