While the Minnesota Whitecaps have carved an amazing hockey legacy, their most admirable quality is defined by its endurance. Although the last few seasons has seen the club operate as an independent, forced to deal with the constraints that accompany such an existence, there is an unceasing urge to move forward. Helping to set such a positive and empowering example is Brooke White-Lancette.
One of the most underrated superstars in American women’s ice hockey, White-Lancette is a vital part of the Whitecaps’ success. Although one could argue that the remarkable women of the Whitecaps are an undervalued group of craftspeople, highly skilled and proficient in their competencies, their efforts broaden awareness of women’s hockey as a whole.
Dedicated to the Whitecaps and their continued success, White-Lancette’s solid leadership and strong work ethic represent some of the club’s key values. A charter member of the club, she is not just a link to its incipient days, but an empowering example of the exciting future ahead, one that today’s young players can emulate and aspire to,
“Having been on the team since the inception of the Whitecaps, there are a plethora of reasons I continue as a member of team. Among them are team camaraderie and friendships, a collective passion for the game plus Olympic level competition.
We are continually promoting the sport of hockey as mentors. I also like to give back by sharing my passion for the game while there are opportunities to be a role model, along with continued growth and development.”
The breakthrough moment in Whitecaps history took place north of the border. With the introduction of the Clarkson Cup in 2009, it provided women with a championship tournament outside of the traditional IIHF Women’s Worlds and Winter Games, adding another layer of accessibility in the game’s growth.
Although the Whitecaps were defeated by the Montreal Stars in the 2009 finals, redemption was a significant theme in 2010. With a roster that consisted of just 14 players, including White-Lancette, the Brodt sisters, Chelsey and Winny, along with Winter Games competitors Julie Chu and Jenny Potter, a remarkable display of character and determination defined their finest hour.
Competing against the Brampton Thunder in the 2010 finals, the Whitecaps emerged victorious, becoming the first American-based club to capture the coveted Cup. With all the players from that championship roster enjoying the privilege of having their names engraved on the Cup, future generations will admire their achievements on that fateful day.
“Everything about winning that Clarkson Cup game was the true definition of “Against All Odds” It was a great privilege meeting Mrs. Clarkson and honoring her legacy. It is the equivalent of the Stanley Cup for women’s hockey… an accomplishment that I will be able to share with my children and their children too.”
Testament to White-Lancette’s impact on the Whitecaps is the fact that she is one of the captains. Sharing in that privilege with Winny Brodt-Brown, one of the most influential and important members in franchise history, the two have grown as leaders, players and role models. Adding to such prestige is the fact that many of the current Whitecaps players that grew up in the State of Hockey were influenced by the likes of White-Lancette and Brodt-Brown,
“Having been selected as one of the Minnesota captains, alongside Winny, it brings me great pride to look back at the journey we have paved for the last ten years. As a personal fitness trainer and hockey coach, it is amazing to see how things have come full circle. I have had the privilege of training several of my Whitecaps teammates in their developmental years as high school hockey players.”
This season, there was another chance for White-Lancette to add to her growing list of career accomplishments. During the autumn, the Whitecaps traveled to the Eastern United States and participated in a series of exhibition matches against two of the NWHL’s charter franchises, the Connecticut Whale and the New York Riveters.
Prior to the holiday season in December, the NWHL’s Boston Pride made the journey to Minnesota to grace the ice against the Whitecaps in a two-game series. Such an event was unprecedented as it represented the first-ever professional women’s ice hockey games in Minnesota. Contested at Ridder Arena, home to the five-time NCAA Frozen Four women’s hockey champion Golden Gophers, the game was also televised, another first. It was an exceptional point of pride for White-Lancette to see the Whitecaps be part of history,
“Everything we have worked toward in the past ten years, has now become a reality. For Minnesota to have the first televised women’s pro game will forever be in the history books. Stepping onto the ice felt surreal. Our Dream Has Come True.”
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
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