Kendall Coyne Schofield to Miss PWHL Season and World Championships Due to Pregnancy

Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield announced Thursday she is taking a leave from hockey while pregnant with her second child.

Minnesota Frost captain and four-time U.S. Olympian Kendall Coyne Schofield announced Thursday she will miss the upcoming PWHL season and the women’s world ice hockey championship due to her second pregnancy. The 34-year-old forward, who recently signed a two-year contract in August, will not travel to Denmark for the international tournament opening next week despite practicing with Team USA at a pretournament camp in Michigan this week.

Coyne Schofield enters this leave as a two-time PWHL Walter Cup champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, most recently winning gold at the Milan Cortina Games in February. In 77 career PWHL games, she is tied for third in league history with 63 points and tied for fourth with 30 goals. Her international resume includes 41 goals and 98 points across 89 career games, alongside six world championship gold medals.

Beyond her on-ice performance, Coyne Schofield was a foundational player for the Frost in 2023 and played a primary role in negotiating the league's collective bargaining agreement. Her previous advocacy led to a CBA provision that provides nannies for players' children through their first birthday. Frost GM Melissa Caruso confirmed the team will support the captain during her absence, noting that her leadership extends beyond her active competition schedule.