The Minnesota Frost recently extended rookie forward Dominique Petrie to a two-year contract. Petrie is a tough bottom-six forward with strong off-ice character and potential to play a bigger and more physical role in Frost’s lineup this season.
Minnesota chose Petrie as the 27th overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She started the season very strong, scoring 3 goals in her first 3 games. She also added 7 assists during the 2024-25 regular season. Dom has a unique ability to snag loose pucks out front and react quickly to find the back of the net. One of her goals came from a tip while screening. Meanwhile, another came from staying patient out front and batting the puck in.
During the first round of the 2025 playoffs, Petrie helped the Frost solidify their lead against the Toronto Sceptres with a smart pass immediately off the faceoff to Lee Stecklein, who shot and scored while Petrie screened the net.
She ended the season with 11 points total.
Before her professional career, Petrie represented the US at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships multiple times, earning 2 gold medals and a silver. She also played 3 years for Harvard University, but took the 2022-23 season off due to injury. Petrie transferred to Clarkson University for her final collegiate season before the Frost drafted her.
Going into the 2024-25 season, she expressed her excitement for the physicality of the league. Petrie grew up in Hermosa Beach, Calif., and played on the boys’ AAA team until she left to play for Harvard. She described herself as a player who likes to “use the body” and mentioned she has a hitting background from having played with boys growing up. She immediately adjusted to the league’s physicality and landed 10 hits this past season.
Considering Petrie only dressed for 18 games and averaged 14:37 in ice time, she isn’t far behind fellow rookies Britta Curl-Salemme and Brooke McQuigge. She trails them by 5 points on the scoreboard, but has spent considerably less time in the box.
Last year, McQuigge and Curl-Salemme led the team in penalty minutes. They both play a very physical game, lead the team in hits, and still played in nearly all 30 games. McQuigge has 25 penalty minutes at 28 hits, while Curl-Salemme has managed 24 minutes and 28 hits. Petrie has played a much less physical game and has just 4 minutes in the box.
Hopefully, Petrie will see a little more ice time and play more physically this season. She’s not quite as proven as Curl-Salemme and McQuigge, so she might be hesitant to put herself in the box and potentially cost Minnesota a goal. However, physicality wins games. If she can lean into that skill set, it may help her put up more points.
While her fellow rookies stand out more on paper, Petrie had a great season. She’s tied for 7th place for rookie points with Julia Gosling of the New York Sirens. Petrie also had success at the faceoff. She ended the regular season with a 103 faceoff win over 186 faceoffs, behind only Kelly Pannek, who had 296 wins over 519 faceoffs.
Minnesota GM Melissa Caruso calls Petrie a “smart, tough, and tenacious player who knows how to find the back of the net.”
Caruso also praised Petrie’s off-ice strengths and mentioned that “Dom has embraced being part of the greater community in Minnesota” and how she’s “generous with her time and always willing to give back,” referring to Petrie’s philanthropy efforts.
She spent time this summer volunteering at the We’re All Kings youth hockey camp in Los Angeles. She hopped on the ice to help young girls learn hockey and discussed how excited she is about playing in a professional women’s league.
Petrie noted how special it is for young female hockey players to be able “to see it and to dream it and to know that this is what they too are going to hopefully do when they get older.” With the rise of the PWHL, they can now be professional athletes and earn a “sustained living” while doing it. You can see her genuine joy and effort as she works with young girls learning to play hockey.
Petrie is not the only Frost player to volunteer. Still, her philanthropy work, ease in front of the camera, and likable personality position her to be a potential franchise player in future seasons.
In contrast, Curl-Salemme doesn’t consider herself to be a team “villain,” but is known in the league because she was in hot water last season over old tweets and suspension for an illegal check. Fans love personalities they can root for, good or bad. If Petrie’s not going to be an enforcer, she could pave the opposite path as a more wholesome player.
Petrie had a strong rookie season and quickly adjusted to professional speed. If she leans more into her physical game, she might be able to gain a bigger edge in the PWHL. Petrie is also great off the ice, and her work helping the community could also set her apart.