Jenner, Pannek, Heise finalists for PWHL’s forward of the year

TORONTO — Brianne Jenner of the Ottawa Charge and Taylor Heise and Kelly Pannek of the Minnesota Frost were voted the three finalists for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s forward of the year.

The winner will be announced at the PWHL’s awards ceremony June 16 in Detroit.

Minnesota’s Pannek led the PWHL in points (33) and goals (16) in the league’s third season. Pannek became the second player to take both the points and goals titles in the same season after Toronto’s Natalie Spooner (20 goals, seven assists) in 2024.

Heise, the PWHL’s first overall pick in 2023, totalled 30 points behind her Frost teammate, including 13 goals. She set a PWHL single-season record with six multi-assist games.

Ottawa’s captain Jenner posted 12 goals and 14 points in 30 games. The 35-year-old from Oakville, Ont., closed out the regular season with three goals and four assists in four games to help the Charge claim the fourth and final playoff berth.

Ottawa trails the Montreal Victoire two games to one in the best-of-five Walter Cup championship series. Game 4 is Wednesday at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre.

Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin won the award for top forward last year ahead of finalists Sarah Fillier of the New York Sirens and Hilary Knight, who was coming off a season with the Boston Fleet. Knight played for the Seattle Torrent this past season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2026.