Taylor Heise

Taylor Heise's career as a professional ice hockey forward has been distinguished by her ability to perform under pressure and her consistent contributions to team success. Heise has played for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and has been a key player for the United States women's national ice hockey team. With the national team, she has secured five IIHF medals, including three U18 World Championship gold medals from 2016 to 2018, and two Women's World Championship gold medals in 2023 and 2025. Her performance in these championships, particularly her contribution of 18 points in the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship, the highest by any player in almost three decades, underscores her ability to deliver in high-stakes situations. In 2026, she competed in the Winter Olympics in Milan with Team USA, winning a gold medal.

Prior to her professional career, Heise demonstrated her skills at the University of Minnesota where she left a significant impact on the ice hockey program. She set a program record by playing 175 games, during which she racked up a total of 227 points from 97 goals and 130 assists. Her outstanding performance earned her the nation's top player award, the Patty Kazmaier Award, in 2022. In the same year, she led the NCAA Division I in scoring with 66 points and in goals as a graduate student with 29. Her exceptional performance in college led to her being the first overall pick by the PWHL Minnesota in the 2023 PWHL Draft.

Heise continued to display her prowess as a professional player, leading the Minnesota Frost to win back-to-back Walter Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. Her performance during these championships earned her the Ilana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player award in 2024. This achievement made her the first player in PWHL history to win consecutive titles with the same team. Her contribution to the Minnesota Frost's franchise history was further affirmed when she scored the team's first-ever goal. In addition, she has proven to be an asset to the community, hosting hockey camps and serving on the staff of the Minnesota Hilary Knight Camp. Heise's professional and community contributions highlight her versatility and commitment both on and off the ice.