Noora Tulus talks about coming from Lulea to the PWHL and the impact her former Lulea teammates are having in the league. Entering her first season in the PWHL, while Brooke McQuigge looks to continue to contribute offensively as she has done throughout her journey through hockey, she also looks to build upon the intangibles she brings which have helped drive her success. McQuigge, a Bowmanville, Ontario native, was selected 21st overall by the newly minted Minnesota Frost in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Prior to hearing her name called, McQuigge had a career which began back in Whitby, Ontario, continued at Clarkson University and brought her all the way to MoDo in the SDHL. Brooke McQuigge began her career with the Whitby Wolves, of what was then referred to as the Provincial Women’s Hockey League. During her four seasons with the team, she amassed 86 points in 135 games, and played in two U18 Women’s World Championships during that same time, winning silver in 2017 and bronze in 2018. She then went on to Clarkson University where, in 162 games, which spanned from 2019-20 to 2023-24, McQuigge had 111 goals, including 14 game winners and 18 on the power play. Looking beyond the points on the scoresheet or the awards filling her cabinet, hockey is also equally about leadership and character, both of which McQuigge exemplifies, where she has captained clubs on two separate occasions, with two separate organizations. First, with the Whitby Wolves for two of her four seasons, a team in which she played alongside her sister, goaltender Rachel McQuigge, who played last season with then PWHL Ottawa. She would then go on to captain her collegiate team, the Clarkson Golden Knights, in 2022-23. One of the many skills which make an individual such as Brooke McQuigge so exciting to watch is that she isn’t a one dimensional player. McQuigge can play in all situations and be relied upon to make the right play at the right time. Take her collegiate career as a perfect example: over her five years at Clarkson, McQuigge never had a season in which her +/- fell below a +6 and averaged a +15 over that span. The ability for a player to be skilled on both sides of the puck makes said player an enticing selection come draft time, especially in a league where, on any given day, the standings can change dramatically and wins are at a premium. Although her PWHL career may be young, McQuigge has shown resilience and determination, which has helped her move from being a healthy scratch, to the 13th forward and now, on the third line alongside Liz Schepers and Claire Butorac with the Frost. In the 11 games she’s played with the team, McQuigge has scored two goals, both at home, to go along with six hits, showcasing another intriguing aspect of her game: her physicality and drive to recover the puck. Brooke McQuigge has enjoyed a career full of goals, points and awards, but it’s when you dig deeper that you discover how complete she is, both on the ice and in the dressing room. Come playoff time, for a club looking to go back-to-back, it’s players like McQuigge who can break out and become a difference maker.
