Minnesota Whitecaps, head coach part ways days after losing league title

Minnesota-Whitecaps-title — The Minnesota Whitecaps pose with the 2019 Isobel Cup after winning the championship trophy in their inaugural season in the NWHL at TRIA Rink in St. Paul.

By Rob Beer

March 29, 2023 at 4:31 PM

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation announced Wednesday, March 29, that Ronda Engelhardt is no longer coaching the team.

In five seasons with Minnesota, Engelhardt served as co-coach with Jack Brodt before taking over full responsibilities this past season.

The women’s professional team that plays out of Richfield Ice Arena south of Minneapolis lost the Isobel Cup game -- the league’s championship -- 4-3 on Sunday in overtime to the Toronto Six in Tempe, Ariz. The team had a 10-11-3 record for the 2022-23 season.

"We want to thank Ronda for her five seasons as a coach with the Minnesota Whitecaps,” said Bobby Long, director of hockey operations with NLTT Hockey Ventures, LLC., in a statement. "The organization will be conducting a search over the next few months to fill the head coach's role with the Whitecaps.”

Engelhardt was assisted this season by Amber Hegland and Angela Zevnik Girtz.

The PHF was formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League.

By Rob Beer

Rob Beer is the digital content manager for Forum Communications. A journalist with Forum Communications since 1991, he is the editor of The Rink Live and helps cover the CCHA. He also assists with other content produced by Forum Communications.

Minnesota Whitecaps, head coach part ways days after losing league title

The women’s professional team that plays out of Richfield Ice Arena lost the Isobel Cup game -- the league’s championship -- 4-3 on Sunday in overtime to the Toronto Six in Tempe, Ariz.