Frankel, Pannek, Winn highlight 2026 PWHL Award winners
On Tuesday night in Hockeytown, the Professional Women’s Hockey League celebrated the best performers during the 2025-26 season with the annual PWHL Awards.
From dominant offensive and defensive performances to breakout seasons, check out who walked away from Detroit with some hardware. Be ready…you’re going to see a lot of the Boston Fleet today.
Billie Jean King MVP Award
Aerin Frankel (Boston Fleet)
Finalists: Ann-Renee Desbiens (MTL), Kelly Pannek (MIN)
Frankel becomes the first-ever goaltender to be named the league’s most valuable player. She was once again the backbone of the Fleet and was one of the main reasons for the team’s success. The Green Monsters’ play led Boston to one of the best seasons in league history. Not only were the fleet the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year, doing so in record time, but they also challenged for first place in the PWHL with the Montreal Victoire, despite finishing second place on the final day of the season.
Frankel set a new PWHL record with eight shutouts this past season. She finished tied with Desbiens for the most wins (19), ending the campaign with a 19-4-1-2 record. The former Northeastern Husky finished second in the PWHL with a 1.17 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.
Forward of the Year
Kelly Pannek (Minnesota Frost)
Finalists: Taylor Heise (MIN), Brianne Jenner (OTT)
Pannek was considered by some to be the favorite for the award, as she was the league’s best offensive weapon this season. The Plymouth, Minn. native had posted a combined 27 points across her first two seasons in the league, but exploded for an incredible 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in the 30-game season, setting a new PWHL record for points in a single season, while also leading the league in goals. It earned Pannek both the Top Goal Scorer and Points Leader Awards, making her the second player in league history to accomplish the feat.
Defender of the Year
Megan Keller (Boston Fleet)
Finalists: Sophie Jaques (VAN), Haley Winn (BOS)
Keller was the most proficient scoring defender in the league this season. With seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points, the Fleet captain led all players at her position in points, tying the league record for points by a blueliner and sitting tied in overall scoring in the PWHL this year. She also potted four power-play goals and three game-winning goals, both the most among defenders. On top of that, her average of ice time 26:40 was second in the PWHL, with a plus/minus of +10 that was tied for fourth among defenders, and tied for 10th in the league, overall.
Goaltender of the Year
Aerin Frankel (Boston Fleet)
Finalists: Ann-Renee Desbiens (MTL), Gwyneth Philips (OTT)
On top of her MVP performance, Frankel was named the PWHL’s top goaltender for the first time, becoming the first netminder to win a pair of individual awards in a single season.
Rookie of the Year
Haley Winn (Boston Fleet)
Finalists: Nicole Gosling (MTL), Casey O’Brien (NY)
Winn made an immediate impact in her first season in the league. The Clarkson graduate played alongside Keller for the entire year and proved that her play at the collegiate and international game blended into the pro ranks. She led all skaters in average ice time (26:45), finishing third in defensive scoring with five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, tied for second in scoring among rookies.
Coach of the Year
Kris Sparre (Boston Fleet)
Finalists: Kori Cheverie (MTL), Carla MacLeod (OTT)
Sparre was also considered to be the favorite for the award, especially given how bad the Fleet was before his hiring. He came in and restored confidence in a fairly talented group, which led to Boston becoming one of the most stagnant defenses in the PWHL. The team would go on to secure a postseason berth for the second time in franchise history, doing so in a record 24 games. The team finished second in the league in goals against, only trailing the Victoire. However, Boston came short of reaching its ultimate goal, as the team was knocked out by MacLeod’s Charge in the semfinals. Sparre might be on his way back home to Hamilton, but he made a lasting impact on the Fleet franchise.
Hockey for All Award
Rebecca Leslie (Ottawa Charge)
Along with being named to the second all-star team following a career-best season, Leslie was given the honor awarded to the player who best exemplifies “commitment to growing the game and engaging with her community.”
First All-Star Team
F – Kelly Pannek (Minnesota)
F – Taylor Heise (Minnesota)
F – Brianne Jenner (Ottawa)
D – Megan Keller (Boston)
D – Sophie Jaques (Vancouver)
G – Aerin Frankel (Boston)
Second All-Star Team
F – Laura Stacey (Montreal)
F – Rebecca Leslie (Ottawa)
F – Britta Curl-Salemme (Minnesota)
D – Nicole Gosling (Montreal)
D – Haley Winn (Boston)
G – Ann-Renee Desbiens (Montreal)
All-Rookie Team
F – Casey O’Brien (New York)
F – Kristyna Kaltounkova (New York)
F – Abby Newhook (Boston)
D – Nicole Gosling (Montreal)
D – Haley Winn (Boston)
G – Hannah Murphy