Kelly Pannek

Kelly Maureen Pannek (born December 29, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played in the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). An alternate captain for Minnesota, Pannek has won back-to-back Walter Cup championships with the Frost in 2024 and 2025.

Internationally, Pannek has represented the United States since 2017, earning three Olympic medals—gold in 2018, silver in 2022, and gold in 2026—and seven World Championship medals, including four golds (2017, 2019, 2023, 2025). At the 2025 World Championship, she finished fourth in tournament scoring with eight points in seven games. In the 2018 Olympic gold medal game against Canada, Pannek delivered a crucial assist on the game-tying goal with 6:21 remaining that sent the game to overtime, where the United States won 3–2 in a shootout for their first Olympic gold in 20 years.

At the collegiate level, Pannek played for the University of Minnesota, recording 186 points in 157 games and winning two NCAA national championships (2015, 2016). She was a Patty Kazmaier Award finalist in 2017 after scoring 62 points in 39 games. In high school at Benilde-St. Margaret's, she was a dual-sport athlete who set a Minnesota state record for the fastest natural hat trick in hockey (three goals in 22 seconds) and was named 2013 Minnesota Ms. Soccer.

Early life Born in Plymouth, Minnesota to Molly and Todd Pannek, Kelly was raised with her two older sisters, Allie and Amy, and one younger brother, Billy in Plymouth. Pannek has cited this variety as essential to her success, stating: "I grew up in a time where you're always playing outside, playing whatever games with the neighborhood kids, playing a bunch of different sports...I think that's a huge reason why I am the athlete I am now."

In soccer, Pannek was a six-time varsity letter winner who played midfielder and scored 99 points, including 41 goals, as a senior. Despite being one of the best soccer players in Minnesota and receiving offers to play both Division I soccer and hockey at the University of Minnesota, Pannek chose to focus solely on hockey for college, explaining that she "always loved hockey practice" and was constantly working to improve at the sport. Pannek was a National Honor Society member and was named to the high honor roll. She was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in women's college hockey, and the Gophers won their second consecutive national championship.

Professional

Drafted by Minnesota Whitecaps (2018) Pannek was drafted fourth overall by the Minnesota Whitecaps in the 2018 NWHL Draft on December 20, 2018, making her the Whitecaps' first-ever draft pick. She was one of three 2018 U.S. Olympic gold medalists selected in the first round of the draft, alongside Megan Keller (third overall to Buffalo) and Kali Flanagan (fifth overall to Boston). At the time of her selection, Pannek was in the middle of her senior season at Minnesota, where she had recorded 11 goals and eight assists in 18 games. However, Pannek never played for the Whitecaps and joined the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) instead.

PWHPA (2019–2023) After graduating from Minnesota in 2019, Pannek joined the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), opting not to sign with the NWHL in pursuit of a sustainable professional league. The PWHPA was founded in May 2019 by over 200 players following the dissolution of the Canadian Women's Hockey League, with the goal of establishing a unified, financially sustainable professional women's hockey league in North America. PWHPA members boycotted existing leagues—including the NWHL—citing concerns over inadequate salaries, lack of health insurance, and insufficient financial stability.

Pannek competed with the PWHPA's Minnesota regional hub during the Dream Gap Tour showcases from 2020 to 2023, a series of exhibition events designed to generate support for the establishment of a professional league while maintaining competitive play. During the 2020–21 PWHPA season, Pannek emerged as a leading scorer for Team Adidas (Minnesota). In 11 games during the Florida hub-city training, she led the team with six goals and 10 points. She continued as a key player throughout the PWHPA's existence, competing alongside teammates including Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hilary Knight, Hannah Brandt, and Lee Stecklein in showcases held in cities across North America. In the 2022–23 PWHPA season, Pannek played for Team Harvey's alongside players such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Alex Carpenter. The PWHPA's efforts culminated in 2022 when the organization partnered with Mark Walter and Billie Jean King, leading to the formation of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) in 2023. Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitz stated: "With the signing of three of the top players in the world, Minnesota cements its foundation as a team built on excellence."

During the inaugural PWHL season, Pannek recorded four goals and 12 assists in 19 regular season games. Minnesota finished the regular season in fourth place with an 8–4–3–9 record, clinching the final playoff spot on the last day of the season after losing their final five games. In the semifinals, top-seeded PWHL Toronto selected Minnesota as their opponent. After being shut out in the first two games of the series, Minnesota rallied to win three consecutive games, advancing to the 2024 PWHL Finals.

Minnesota clinched the inaugural Walter Cup championship with a 3–0 road victory over Boston in Game 5 on May 29, 2024. Pannek finished the playoffs with two goals and three assists in 10 games, contributing to Minnesota's championship run. Minnesota again entered the playoffs as the fourth seed after clinching a playoff berth on the final day of the regular season. Prior to the playoffs, Pannek participated in the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in the Czech Republic, where she finished fourth in tournament scoring with four goals and four assists in seven games as the United States captured gold.

In the semifinals, Minnesota again rallied from a series deficit, defeating PWHL Toronto after losing Game 1. After losing Game 1, the Frost won three consecutive games to capture their second consecutive Walter Cup championship.

Pannek scored the go-ahead goal in Game 4—the series clincher—midway through the second period, giving Minnesota their first lead of the entire series. Liz Schepers scored the championship-winning goal in overtime for the second consecutive year before a crowd of 11,024 at Xcel Energy Center. She began the season in outstanding form, recording eight points (three goals, five assists) in her first six games, matching her goal total from the entire 2024–25 regular season and tying for the league lead in scoring. Pannek credited her offseason preparation for her strong start, noting: "Knowing that it's a long season, [I'm] trying to be ready for the PWHL season, and also trying to be in a good spot to make an Olympic team and then compete at the Olympics in February." On December 19, Pannek recorded an empty-net goal in a 5–2 victory over the Boston Fleet, matching her 2024–25 season goal total. Through the first seven games of the season, Pannek maintained a 4.77 points per 60 minutes of ice time, with six of her eight points coming at even strength. She made her IIHF Women's World Championship debut at the 2017 World Championship in Plymouth, Michigan, where the United States captured gold. Pannek continued to represent the United States at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, earning gold medals at both tournaments. Throughout the tournament, she played on the third line alongside twins Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, and the trio's chemistry was exceptional throughout the competition.

In the gold medal game against Canada, Pannek delivered a crucial stretch pass to Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who was streaking up ice during a Canadian line change. Lamoureux-Morando scored on the breakaway with 6:21 remaining in the third period to tie the game 2–2, sending it to overtime. The United States went on to win 3–2 in a shootout, capturing their first Olympic gold medal in 20 years. Pannek also finished in the tournament's top 10 for faceoff percentage.

2022 Beijing On January 2, 2022, Pannek was named to Team USA's roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. During the preliminary round on February 6, Pannek recorded two goals and one assist in an 8–0 victory over Switzerland, earning three points. Throughout the entire competition, she recorded two goals and four assists in seven games as the United States earned a silver medal, losing 3–2 to Canada in the gold medal game.

Four Nations Cup Pannek won gold with Team USA at the 2017 Four Nations Cup. In the 2025–26 series, played in November and December 2025, Pannek recorded three goals and one assist in four games for Team USA, ranking fifth in series scoring. During her time at the University of Minnesota, she participated in community service activities with organizations including the White Dove Foundation, Masonic Children's Hospital, and HopeKids.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2013 United States U18 5 3 2 5 0 2017 United States WC 5 0 0 0 0 2018 United States OG 5 0 2 2 0 2019 United States WC 7 2 3 5 6 2021 United States WC 7 2 3 5 0 2022 United States OG 7 2 4 6 2 2022 United States WC 7 3 1 4 6 2023 United States WC 7 0 1 1 27 2024 United States WC 7 0 0 0 6 2025 United States WC 7 4 4 8 0 2026 United States OG 7 0 2 2 0 Junior totals 5 3 2 5 0 Senior totals 66 13 20 33 47 NCAA National Champion (University of Minnesota) 2015, 2016 PWHL Forward of the Year 2026 PWHL Points Leader 2026

PWHL Top Goal Scorer 2026 PWHL All-First Team 2026