ST PAUL, Minn. — When the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) drops the puck on its inaugural season in January, Minnesota’s team will be playing on the biggest stage the State of Hockey has to offer.

Minnesota’s team, along with all of the original six teams in the PWHL, won’t take the ice with a flashy logo or team name. Instead, for the first season, the players will simply represent the state – and a purple “Minnesota” across their sweaters – and as the only team playing in a NHL venue, they’ll be hoping to see the state of hockey come out to support them in a big way.

“Hopefully a lot of people come watch us play, love it, come back, bring their friends and family,” said Lee Stecklein, one of eight Minnesota natives on the team’s preseason roster. “I’m just really excited for the opportunity to share women’s hockey with even more people.”

With just over a month before the season begins, players and coaches say everything feels fast-paced right now, both on and off the ice.

“It’s a super exciting time,” said coach Natalie Darwitz. “Ever since I’ve been hired in August it’s absolutely been a blur.” 

Fortunately, Darwitz says many of the players are well acquainted.

“We have a lot of players on our roster who are from our backyard here,” she said. “We feel really strongly about a lot of homegrown talent.”

That was apparent during the very first PWHL draft in September, when the team selected former University of Minnesota center, Taylor Heise, as the league’s very first number-one pick.

“To be able to play in Minnesota, where I’m from, is a dream in itself,” Heise said.

The same could be said by at least eight homegrown players who have joined the team’s preseason roster in the weeks since.

Stecklein was among the initial group of signees. She has played for the University of Minnesota, the US Women’s National Team and the Minnesota White Caps. Though her time with the White Caps gives her experience in a professional league, she says PWHL is also a dream realized.

“There have been a lot of different leagues and associations all building to this moment,” she said. “It’s really exciting to have one league where all of the best talent is. It creates competitive, high-intensity practices and I know it’s going to lead to some really good games.” 

The Minnesota players believe it will be appreciated by some really good crowds in Minnesota, who will gravitate towards so many local athletes competing on the highest level.

“You take all those communities and all those people that have supported you the whole time and, it’s just a community here no matter what,” Heise said.

They’ll also be excited to share a team name and logo with their fans, whenever that time comes. 

“The product on the ice is most important,” Darwitz said. “As we go, I think maybe a team name will come with how we’re playing our identity. For now, purple is our color for year one, that may change for year two based off our name.”

“I feel like the Minnesota Purple Reign would be a fun name with Prince and everything,” Heise said. “But, you know, I don’t really care. I’d just rather play hockey.”

And they know that if they play well, they’ll make their state proud and the fans will follow. 

“This is important for our future generations of females,” Darwitz said. “If you have a daughter or a sister, I think a lot of it is would you want this opportunity for them to grow up and have in the future. That’s what’s going to drive this, the support of the fanbase, the support of people coming out and getting behind this team.” 

Minnesota’s PWHL season will begin on January 3 in Boston and their home opener will take place on January 6th. For more information on tickets and other team updates, click here.

Watch all of the latest stories from Breaking The News in our YouTube playlist: