Goalies Rewrite MVP Narrative in PWHL Award Race
Ann-Renée Desbiens of the Montreal Victoire on January 5, 2025. Photo By Jenn G.
Written By Josie Dinonsie
The Professional Women's Hockey League announced the three finalists for the Billie Jean King MVP Award last week: Ann-Renée Desbiens of the Walter Cup-winning Montreal Victoire, Aerin Frankel of the Boston Fleet, and Kelly Pannek of the Minnesota Frost.
In 2024, forward Natalie Spooner took home the MVP Trophy, followed by forward Marie-Phillip Poulin in 2025. This year, however, the spotlight has shifted to the crease.
For the first time in PWHL history, two goaltenders—Desbiens and Frankel—have been named finalists for the award. Their recognition marks a significant step forward for a league increasingly defined by elite goaltending.
The award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities that make them the most valuable to their team during the regular season. Desbiens and Frankel have built compelling cases through their elite performances between the pipes this season, while Pannek has demonstrated exceptional offensive production for Minnesota.
Desbiens helped lead the Victoire to their first Walter Cup and delivered one of the most impressive seasons by a goaltender in league history. Her performance guided Montreal to the top of the standings at the end of the regular season.
The 32-year-old netminder recorded a league-low six losses among starting goaltenders. Even more impressively, she helped lead the Victoire to a seven-game winning streak to close out the season, building significant momentum heading into the playoffs. Desbiens finished the regular season with a 1.11 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage, making her a clear contender for the MVP award.
Frankel delivered a similarly dominant season for Boston, providing stability in the crease for the Fleet. The netminder recorded 19 wins, matching Desbiens for the league lead. Frankel also set a league record with eight shutouts during the regular season.
She further cemented her status as one of the league's premier goaltenders by recording three consecutive shutouts and a 226-minute scoreless streak, establishing a new PWHL record for the longest shutout streak. She concluded the season with a 1.17 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage. Although the Fleet fell short in the playoffs, Frankel was a key driver of the team's success throughout the season.
The third finalist is Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek. Pannek represents a more traditional MVP candidate: a highly productive and efficient offensive player. She led the league in scoring with 33 points in 30 games. In addition, she played a major role in the Frost's offensive success, contributing to 36 percent of the team's goals this season.
Pannek also demonstrated remarkable growth, recording 22 more points than in the previous season and setting a league record for the largest single-season improvement in point production. Her accurate shooting and strong power-play performances helped drive Minnesota's offense and earned her a place among the league's MVP finalists.
Whether the winner is Desbiens, Frankel, or Pannek, the award, which will be presented on June 16, will go to a player who has made history in the PWHL. With two goaltenders emerging as front-runners, this year's race reflects a shift in the league's landscape, highlighting the critical role of the players between the pipes in stopping pucks, stealing games, and shaping championship-caliber teams.
