Two goaltenders among 2026 PWHL MVP finalists

Field Level Media|published: Wed 27th May, 12:47 2026

Jan 13, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) looks on against Boston during the second period in a PWHL ice hockey game at Verdun Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Ann-Renee Desbiens of the Montreal Victoire, Aerin Frankel of the Boston Fleet and Kelly Pannek of the Minnesota Frost were named finalists Wednesday for the 2026 PWHL Billie Jean King MVP award.

Desbiens and Frankel are the first goaltenders to be named finalists for the award, which honors the player considered most valuable to her team's success throughout the regular season.

Desbiens and Frankel are both finalists for Goaltender of the Year honors, while Pannek is a finalist for Forward of the Year. Winners of all PWHL awards will be announced on June 16 in Detroit.

Desbiens, 32, set single-season PWHL records with a 1.11 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage and shared the league lead with a record 19 wins in 25 games. She ranked second with seven shutouts.

Frankel, 26, posted a league-record eight shutouts among her record-tying 19 wins, finishing with a 1.17 GAA and a .953 save percentage. She had a shutout streak of 226 minutes and nine seconds.

Pannek, 30, posted a league-record 33 points (16 goals, ,17 assists) in 30 games. She tied for the league lead with three multi-goal games and matched a PWHL record with seven power-play goals.

Montreal forward Marie-Philip Poulin was named the MVP last season, while Toronto forward Natalie Spooner took home the inaugural award in 2024.

--Field Level Media

Latest