Kelly Pannek
Kelly Maureen Pannek is an American professional ice hockey player for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League. She previously played in the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association. An alternate captain for Minnesota, Pannek has won back-to-back Walter Cup championships with the Frost in 2024 and 2025.
Internationally, Pannek has represented the United States since 2017, earning two Olympic medals—gold in 2018 and silver in 2022—and seven World Championship medals, including four golds. At the 2025 World Championship, she finished fourth in tournament scoring with eight points in seven games. In the 2018 Olympic gold medal game against Canada, Pannek delivered a crucial assist on the game-tying goal with 6:21 remaining that sent the game to overtime, where the United States won 3–2 in a shootout for their first Olympic gold in 20 years.
At the collegiate level, Pannek played for the University of Minnesota, recording 186 points in 157 games and winning two NCAA national championships. She was a Patty Kazmaier Award finalist in 2017 after scoring 62 points in 39 games. In high school at Benilde-St. Margaret's, she was a dual-sport athlete who set a Minnesota state record for the fastest natural hat trick in hockey and was named 2013 Minnesota Ms. Soccer.
Early life
Born in Plymouth, Minnesota to Molly and Todd Pannek, Kelly was raised with her two older sisters, Allie and Amy, and one younger brother, Billy in Plymouth. Pannek grew up playing multiple sports, crediting her multi-sport upbringing as essential to her athletic development. She played baseball, basketball, and spent time playing outdoor games with neighborhood kids. Pannek has cited this variety as essential to her success, stating: "I grew up in a time where you're always playing outside, playing whatever games with the neighborhood kids, playing a bunch of different sports...I think that's a huge reason why I am the athlete I am now."Pannek attended Benilde-St. Margaret's, a Catholic school in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where she excelled in both hockey and soccer as a dual-sport varsity athlete for four years. In hockey, she led the Red Knights in scoring as a freshman with 52 points during the 2010–11 season. As a sophomore in 2012, Pannek set a Minnesota state record for the fastest natural hat trick, scoring three consecutive goals in 22 seconds. She was a four-time Star Tribune all-metro honoree, receiving first team honors in 2013 and 2014, and was a finalist for the Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award in 2014.
In soccer, Pannek was a six-time varsity letter winner who played midfielder and scored 99 points, including 41 goals, as a senior. She led the Red Knights to back-to-back Minnesota state soccer championships as a junior and senior and was named 2013 Minnesota Ms. Soccer. Despite being one of the best soccer players in Minnesota and receiving offers to play both Division I soccer and hockey at the University of Minnesota, Pannek chose to focus solely on hockey for college, explaining that she "always loved hockey practice" and was constantly working to improve at the sport. Pannek was a National Honor Society member and was named to the high honor roll.
Playing career
Collegiate
Pannek played four seasons for the University of Minnesota between 2014 and 2019, recording 186 points in 157 games. She helped the Golden Gophers win back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2015 and 2016. As a freshman during the 2014–15 season, Pannek led all NCAA rookies with 44 points in 41 games, earning a spot on the All-USCHO Rookie Team and WCHA All-Rookie Team. She ranked eighth in the NCAA and third in the WCHA with 30 assists. In her sophomore season, Pannek recorded a career-high 49 points in 40 games and led the Gophers with six game-winning goals. She was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Month for October after leading the league with a.701 faceoff winning percentage and 10 goals during the month.Pannek's junior season in 2016–17 was her most decorated, as she recorded 62 points in 39 games and was named a First-Team All-American by the AHCA. She was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in women's college hockey, and the Gophers won their second consecutive national championship. Following the season, Pannek took a redshirt year in 2017–18 to train with the U.S. Women's National Team in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympics, where she won a gold medal.
Pannek returned for her senior season in 2018–19 as team captain, recording 31 points in 37 games. She led the WCHA with two hat tricks and tied for first in the conference and fourth in the nation with three shorthanded goals. She finished her collegiate career ranked sixth all-time among Golden Gophers with 114 career assists and 10th with 186 career points.
Professional
Drafted by Minnesota Whitecaps (2018)
Pannek was drafted fourth overall by the Minnesota Whitecaps in the 2018 NWHL Draft on December 20, 2018, making her the Whitecaps' first-ever draft pick. She was one of three 2018 U.S. Olympic gold medalists selected in the first round of the draft, alongside Megan Keller and Kali Flanagan. At the time of her selection, Pannek was in the middle of her senior season at Minnesota, where she had recorded 11 goals and eight assists in 18 games. However, Pannek never played for the Whitecaps and joined the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association instead.PWHPA (2019–2023)
After graduating from Minnesota in 2019, Pannek joined the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association, opting not to sign with the NWHL in pursuit of a sustainable professional league. The PWHPA was founded in May 2019 by over 200 players following the dissolution of the Canadian Women's Hockey League, with the goal of establishing a unified, financially sustainable professional women's hockey league in North America. PWHPA members boycotted existing leagues—including the NWHL—citing concerns over inadequate salaries, lack of health insurance, and insufficient financial stability.Pannek competed with the PWHPA's Minnesota regional hub during the Dream Gap Tour showcases from 2020 to 2023, a series of exhibition events designed to generate support for the establishment of a professional league while maintaining competitive play. During the 2020–21 PWHPA season, Pannek emerged as a leading scorer for Team Adidas. In 11 games during the Florida hub-city training, she led the team with six goals and 10 points. She continued as a key player throughout the PWHPA's existence, competing alongside teammates including Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hilary Knight, Hannah Brandt, and Lee Stecklein in showcases held in cities across North America. In the 2022–23 PWHPA season, Pannek played for Team Harvey's alongside players such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Alex Carpenter. The PWHPA's efforts culminated in 2022 when the organization partnered with Mark Walter and Billie Jean King, leading to the formation of the Professional Women's Hockey League in 2023.
Minnesota Frost (2023–present)
2023–24 season
On September 20, 2023, the newly formed PWHL announced that Pannek, along with Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein, had signed three-year contracts with the Minnesota franchise, making them the team's first three signings in PWHL history. Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitz stated: "With the signing of three of the top players in the world, Minnesota cements its foundation as a team built on excellence." Pannek was named one of the team's alternate captains.During the inaugural PWHL season, Pannek recorded four goals and 12 assists in 19 regular season games. Minnesota finished the regular season in fourth place with an 8–4–3–9 record, clinching the final playoff spot on the last day of the season after losing their final five games. In the semifinals, top-seeded PWHL Toronto selected Minnesota as their opponent. After being shut out in the first two games of the series, Minnesota rallied to win three consecutive games, advancing to the 2024 PWHL Finals. In Game 3 of the finals against PWHL Boston at Xcel Energy Center, Pannek assisted on Sydney Brodt's first career PWHL goal, which gave Minnesota a 2–0 first-period lead en route to a 4–1 victory before more than 9,000 fans.
Minnesota clinched the inaugural Walter Cup championship with a 3–0 road victory over Boston in Game 5 on May 29, 2024. Pannek finished the playoffs with two goals and three assists in 10 games, contributing to Minnesota's championship run. Following the championship, Pannek praised captain Kendall Coyne Schofield's leadership, stating: "The only reason this happened from a player's sense is Kendall."
2024–25 season
In the Frost's championship defense season, Pannek recorded three goals and 11 assists in 30 regular season games. Minnesota again entered the playoffs as the fourth seed after clinching a playoff berth on the final day of the regular season. Prior to the playoffs, Pannek participated in the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in the Czech Republic, where she finished fourth in tournament scoring with four goals and four assists in seven games as the United States captured gold.In the semifinals, Minnesota again rallied from a series deficit, defeating PWHL Toronto after losing Game 1. Minnesota advanced to face the Ottawa Charge in the 2025 PWHL Finals, where all four games were decided by 2–1 overtime results. After losing Game 1, the Frost won three consecutive games to capture their second consecutive Walter Cup championship.
Pannek scored the go-ahead goal in Game 4—the series clincher—midway through the second period, giving Minnesota their first lead of the entire series. It was also the Frost's first goal in the first period of the entire finals series. Liz Schepers scored the championship-winning goal in overtime for the second consecutive year before a crowd of 11,024 at Xcel Energy Center. Pannek finished the playoffs with two goals and five assists in eight games, becoming the ninth Frost player to score multiple postseason goals. Following the championship, Pannek reflected on winning at home: "It's always fun to celebrate in Boston with just the people closest to you...It's also special to celebrate here with all the fans who stick with you through three overtimes."