After years in Europe and Boston,
the Olympian returns home and quickly becomes a key piece for the Frost

After the PWHL expanded its league to eight teams this offseason, several teams underwent significant roster changes due to the expansion draft and free agency. The Minnesota Frost were no different, with a roster that features a new-look defense that includes four new faces on the Minnesota blueline.

One of the most intriguing additions is Sidney Morin, an experienced, steady defender who has earned numerous accolades throughout her career. Morin spent the last two seasons with the Boston Fleet after spending several years playing in Europe. 

She’s an Olympian, winning a gold medal with the United States in 2018, and also captured a silver medal in the 2013 U18 Women’s World Championship. By any measure, the acquisition of Morin is a coup for the Frost.

Still, Morin signing with Frost was more than just bringing in an experienced impact player; it represented a homecoming for the decorated defender.

Minnesota Made

Morin’s roots in Minnesota hockey run deep. The blueliner was a standout all the way back to her high school days, winning three consecutive state championships with Minnetonka from 2011 through 2013.

After her time at Minnetonka, Morin continued her career in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota Duluth. Morin once again found incredible success, playing 147 games over four years and racking up 70 points.

Morin’s steady play and leadership earned her the alternate captaincy in her junior season, and she was later named captain for her senior season. That senior season was an excellent campaign for Duluth, with the team going 25-7-5, appearing in the WCHA Championship game and earning a berth in the National Championship Tournament.

After finishing her time in Duluth, Morin signed with Modo Hockey of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League, beginning her time in Europe. She spent five seasons between the Swedish and Swiss leagues before coming back home to play for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the now-defunct PHF. 

When the PWHL formed, Morin played for Boston in the league’s first two seasons, but all roads seemed to lead home for the defender, who has always found her way back to Minnesota. 

Morin says that this season felt like the right time to return home after a couple of years in Boston.

“It’s special being back in Minnesota. I grew up here, so it’ll always hold a special place in my heart,” Morin said. “I had a lot of fun playing in Europe and with Boston, but it feels good at this point in my career to be playing for my home state.”

While it’s great to have a talent of Morin’s caliber back in the State of Hockey, it was also a crucial opportunity for the Frost to fill a need on the roster.

Stabilizing the Blue Line

As mentioned, the Frost experienced a bit of turnover with the team’s blueline. The team brought back returning presences Lee Stecklein, Natalie Buchbinder and Mae Batherson, but needed to retool the defense corps otherwise.

The Frost drafted defenders Kendall Cooper (first round), Ava Rinker (fourth round), and Brooke Becker (sixth round) and brought Madison Bizal back to the U.S. after a stint in Sweden. 

The group of young defenders is talented and has contributed well thus far, but the team needed another veteran presence to round out the blueline. Minnesota general manager Melissa Caruso immediately identified Sidney Morin as the perfect fit for the Frost’s blue line.

“Once Sid became available, we jumped right on that. We thought her veteran presence would be a great addition to the group,” Caruso said. “She’s a great fit personally and professionally around here.”

Morin’s fit with the Frost makes perfect sense, as the defender has been incredibly decorated everywhere she’s been. Morin was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016-17. She was a standout in Europe as well, taking home the honors of Swedish Women’s Hockey League Defender of the Year twice. 

Bringing Morin back to Minnesota was an excellent opportunity for both the player and the team. That union made a lot of sense before the season, and the union has worked out just as expected so far.

Making the Game Look Easy

Sidney Morin has immediately stepped into the Frost’s lineup and become a crucial player for Minnesota. Head Coach Ken Klee speaks about Morin’s stability and how vital that’s been for the team since her arrival.

“She’s been great since she’s been here. I think she is that calm, poised defender that we were looking for,” Klee said. “She makes the game look easy. She’s not trying to overcomplicate things. She’s been a really nice fit for us.”

From Morin’s point of view, the transition has been just as smooth. That sense of calm and steadiness Klee pointed to is something Morin has been focused on bringing to the Frost from day one.

“I feel pretty good now. It was a quick preseason, so there was a lot to learn with other players’ tendencies. But I think I’m settling in well now,” Morin said. “I’ve been trying to bring some confidence to the blueline, and learn systems as fast as I can to be someone the team can lean on right away.”

Thus far, Morin’s impact on the Frost defense has been unmistakable. The defender is averaging 20:41 of ice time per game while playing steady and reliable defense. The Frost gave up four goals to the Boston Fleet in their last matchup, but before that, Minnesota had only allowed three goals total in their previous three matchups. 

Morin has played primarily with Mae Batherson during the early goings of the season, and the pair has performed admirably. While Batherson is a returning player from last year, she’s still playing in just her second professional season. Playing with an experienced player like Morin should be incredibly valuable for Batherson’s development.

In the end, Sidney Morin’s return to Minnesota checks every box for both the player and the Frost. Her experience and composure have already provided a stabilizing force for a blueline that’s undergone changes and has continued to be a productive part of the team.

As the season unfolds, Morin should continue to be an impact player for the Frost. After a career spanning from Minnetonka High School to Duluth and beyond, seeing Morin represent the State of Hockey just feels right.