Frost sign first-round pick Kendall Cooper
One of the top prospects coming out of this year’s draft has inked her first pro deal.
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Frost announced that they have signed defender Kendall Cooper to a two-year contract, which will carry through the 2026-27 season.
Cooper was taken by the two-time defending Walter Cup champions in the first round, sixth overall, of this year’s PWHL Draft.
“It has been an exciting couple of weeks since the draft and I’m very happy to get this done,” Cooper said in a release. “I’m looking forward to returning to Minnesota in the fall for the start of the season, and I can’t wait to play in front of the great Frost fans in the State of Hockey.”
Cooper enters the professional ranks after a fruitful career at Quinnipiac University. The Oakville, Ontario native spent five years with the program, helping the team get to the NCAA National Tournament in 2022 and 2023, falling in the Women’s Frozen Four Semifinals to Ohio State two years ago.
Cooper captained the Bobcats in her super-senior season, scoring seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 37 games. It came right after her impressive performance in the 2023-24 campaign, where the former Stoney Creek Sabre posted career highs in goals (11), assists (22), and points (33).
The 23-year-old has proven she is a solid two-way blueliner, who is reliable in her own zone, while also being able to contribute offensively when needed.
In 158 games with Quinnipiac, she scored 33 goals and 83 assists for 116 points. She also represented Canada at the 2019 and 2020 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championships, winning the gold medal in 2019 and captaining the team to silver the following year.
Cooper is the first player of this year’s draft class to sign a contract. The New York Sirens’ first-overall pick, Kristyna Kaltounkova, and Boston Fleet pick Haley Winn are among the notable soon-to-be-rookies who have to put pen to paper.
Cooper joins a Frost team that is desperate for more defensive depth after Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson signed with PWHL Vancouver during the expansion process. Cooper will be alongside the likes of veterans Lee Stecklein, Natalie Buchbinder and newcomer Sidney Morin.