Taylor Heise

Taylor Heise's career as a professional ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is marked by a series of notable accomplishments. She has been a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team, and her performance has been recognized on multiple occasions, including being named Tournament MVP at the 2018 U18 World Championship and the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship. Heise has also won five IIHF medals, comprising three U18 World Championship gold medals (2016–2018) and two Women's World Championship gold medals (2023, 2025). In 2026, she represented the USA at the Winter Olympics in Milan. Her college career at the University of Minnesota was equally impressive, with her winning the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2022 as the nation's top player.

Heise's professional career began when she was selected first overall by PWHL Minnesota in the 2023 PWHL Draft. She quickly established herself as a key player, leading the Minnesota Frost to back-to-back Walter Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. She was awarded the Ilana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player in 2024, and despite a knee injury, Heise was second in the league with eight assists through the first six games of the 2024-25 PWHL season. Her contributions also extended to scoring the overtime winner in the 2025 PWHL playoffs, helping Minnesota Frost reach the Walter Cup Finals.

Heise has also been actively involved in youth hockey development and community engagement, running the "Taylor Heise 27" hockey camp and participating in other hockey camps in Minnesota. This, along with her history of success and recognition, including being named to the WCHA All-Rookie team in the 2018–19 season, winning the Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award in 2018, and being named to Team USA's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, positions her as an influential figure in the realm of women's ice hockey. Her efforts and accomplishments have led to her being honored in her hometown, with a banner featuring her name and number unveiled at Red Wing High School in December 2023.