Two Goalies Just Blew Up the PWHL MVP Finalist List and The League Is Still Buzzing

Hold up, fam! You will NOT believe what just dropped in the PWHL MVP race. Ann-Renee Desbiens of the Montreal Victoire, Aerin Frankel from the Boston Fleet, and Kelly Pannek of the Minnesota Frost just got named finalists Wednesday for the 2026 PWHL Billie Jean King MVP award. But get this, for the FIRST time ever, two goalies are in the running for the league's top prize! Seriously, two goalies! This isn't just a list; it is history happening right before our eyes, and it is absolutely epic for the league.

The Historic Goalie Takeover: Desbiens and Frankel Shutting Down History

Okay, so let's talk about these two absolute brick walls: Desbiens and Frankel. This is incredibly significant because they are the first goaltenders in the history of this award to even make it to the finalist stage. The Billie Jean King MVP award is all about who is most valuable to their team's success throughout the regular season, right? And these two absolutely owned that definition. It's no surprise they are both also finalists for Goaltender of the Year honors, because, well, look at the stats! Desbiens, at 32 years old, had a monstrous season for Montreal. She absolutely crushed it, setting new PWHL records with an unbelievable 1.11 goals-against average and an insane .955 save percentage. She also tied for the league lead with a record 19 wins across 25 games and was second in the league with seven shutouts. That is pure MVP material, no doubt.

Frankel's Unstoppable Streak and Pannek's Point-Scoring Frenzy

Then you have Aerin Frankel, the 26-year-old phenom from Boston, who was just as ridiculous between the pipes. She put up a league-record eight shutouts and tied Desbiens with a record-tying 19 wins herself. Her numbers are just as mind-boggling: a 1.17 GAA and a .953 save percentage. And get this, she had a shutout streak that lasted an unbelievable 226 minutes and nine seconds! That is almost four full games of pure dominance where nobody could get a puck past her! Seriously, these goalies were just built different this season. But let's not forget Kelly Pannek from Minnesota. The 30-year-old forward absolutely torched the league with a record 33 points in 30 games. She was a scoring machine, lighting the lamp 16 times and dishing out 17 assists. Pannek also tied for the league lead with three multi-goal games and matched a PWHL record with seven power-play goals. That is serious offensive firepower right there, making her a well-deserved finalist for Forward of the Year. It is an all-around incredible group of talent up for the biggest award in the league. So, who takes home the trophy this year? The anticipation is real! We will all find out on June 16 when all the PWHL award winners are announced in Detroit. This isn't just about who gets a shiny award; it is about validating the incredible, history-making seasons these athletes just had. Get ready, because it is going to be a wild announcement that every hockey fan needs to see!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.