Lee Stecklein has always been one of the PWHL's best defenders. The 6-foot blueliner is known for her defensive play, shutting down top opponents. She's always been capable of playing a more offensive game, but the 31-year-old has spent most of her career focusing on her own zone, not the offensive zone.

Since the 2025 IIHF World Championships however, Stecklein has been showing off the offensive upside to her game. At Worlds, she scored in the round robin against Canada and Finland. The All-World Stecklein has been showing all sides to her game with both Team USA, and now in the Walter Cup playofs with the Minnesota Frost.

In game two of the Walter Cup playoffs, with her team trailing, Stecklein scored two big goals, and added an assist in a second period streak that gave the Frost momentum, and eventually the win.

“It goes back to our team and the way we’ve been playing these last few games has opened up some things," Stecklein said of her hot streak. "Obviously, we have some offensive threats and people they have to be worried about which opens up some stuff and you just have to be ready to take advantage of it. Luckily, it’s gone my way so far."

Stecklein's impact however, is more than a hot streak. She's a winner, and her play has been a major part of taking home Minnesota high school state titles, U-18 World gold, three NCAA titles, an NWHL championship, Olympic gold, World Championship gold, a PWHPA title, and last year, the inaugural Walter Cup. She has won everything there is to win in women's hockey and her impact continues to be felt with the Frost.

“She was outstanding. Obviously, she’s known as a world-class defensive defender," said Minnesota Frost head coach Ken Klee. "Always has a good stick, good gap and is hard to play against. Tonight, she was feeling it. Driving the net and had the little tip play. You know it’s the playoffs, we know we have to find different ways to score goals and different people have to contribute. She knows that she exemplifies that and that’s why she’s one of our leaders and one of our best players and she was awesome.” 

Stecklein and the Minnesota Frost are heading home to host the Toronto Sceptres for game three of their Walter Cup semi-finals on Sunday.