PWHL's most suspended player: Can Curl-Salemme cool it in the final?

Britta Curl-Salemme scored Minnesota's first goal of the 2025 playoffs. Less than a minute later, she became the first player ejected from them.

In the second period of Game 1 against Toronto, Curl-Salemme was assessed a five-minute major for a hit to the head of Toronto defender Renata Fast, resulting in a game misconduct and ultimately, a one-game suspension. It came 41 seconds after she had scored on a power play.

It was the third suspension of her rookie season.

The hit reignited a season-long conversation about Curl-Salemme's edge - and where it crosses the line. When it comes to physicality, her adjustment to the professional game has been steep. She played five seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where she won three national championships and captained the Badgers in back-to-back years. She left school as the program's all-time leader in games played with 181, and she is eighth all time in points with 179.

"She's a great player, great person, she plays extremely hard, and she's an asset to our team as she would be to any team," Minnesota coach Ken Klee said during a media availability.

But NCAA hockey doesn't allow full contact the way the PWHL does. That shift, Klee noted, is a key part of adapting to the top pro league.

"Players coming out of college have never been allowed full contact, if that's what you want to call it," he said. "It is a learning curve."

The PWHL numbers reflect her impact and her edge. As a rookie, the 25-year-old from Bismarck, North Dakota, scored nine goals (tied for second on the team) and added six assists in 28 regular-season games. She registered 24 penalty minutes, one minute less than fellow Frost rookie Brooke McQuigge, who led the team. Both finished in the top 10 in the league.

It's not the volume of Curl-Salemme's penalty minutes that has drawn the most scrutiny, it's the severity of the calls against her. She served two regular-season one-game suspensions: the first for high-sticking in a Jan. 2 game against Boston and the second for an illegal check to the head March 9 in Toronto.

Curl-Salemme's presence in the league has drawn criticism beyond her on-ice play. After she was selected ninth overall by Minnesota in the 2024 draft, fans reacted to transphobic and racist social media activity. Curl-Salemme addressed the backlash in a video posted to X, saying, "I specifically recognize that my social media activity has resulted in hurt being felt across communities including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals. I just want to apologize and take ownership of that." She added: "To those of you who may still have reservations, I hope you can extend me the grace to prove to you who I really am."

Clashes among women's pro sports athletes over trans inclusion are not unprecedented. The U.S. Women's National Team faced a similar situation around midfielder Korbin Albert's social media activity. Albert had shared and liked posts that were considered anti-LGBTQ+, including one that mocked teammate Megan Rapinoe's injury. The incident prompted public apologies from Albert and statements from team veterans such as Alex Morgan and Lindsey Heaps (nee Horan), who emphasized the team's commitment to inclusivity. The USWNT Players Association also issued a statement reaffirming support for LGBTQIA+ rights, similar to how the PWHL handled Curl-Salemme's controversy.

For a player who publicly asked fans for grace, Curl-Salemme hasn't exactly played it safe on the ice. Her physical style has pushed the limits all season, testing not just the rulebook but the patience of opponents and officials.

"I just know we're trying to get those high hits or any contact to the head out of the game," Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said in a call with reporters. "So I'm just glad (the referees) were able to watch it on video and kept it as a major."

Klee has consistently defended her intent.

"Britta's a hard player," Klee said. "There are other players in the league who play hard as well. Other players have had multiple incidents. Poulin is one of the top players in the league, she's had multiple incidents. So, players who play hard and play aggressive - sometimes it's tough. It's happening in a split second."

He added that Curl-Salemme had just been cross-checked before delivering the hit on Fast. "So, plays happen," Klee said. "For me, it's one of those hockey plays. It's nothing malicious. Obviously, it's a stiff penalty she received, and it was tough, but I think she's trying to learn from it and keep knowing where that line is."

It's a line the PWHL is still defining. Curl-Salemme will likely also be looking to define that line as the Frost head into the Walter Cup Finals for the second consecutive year, after beating Toronto 3-1 in the semifinal series.

"I think everyone's trying to learn and adjust to the rule book - players, officials, staff, whoever it is," Minnesota forward Kelly Pannek said. "I think they've been trying to make the rules clearer for players as to what is allowed and what isn't. That's something the league has emphasized - we don't want the physicality to take over. We want it to be an added element. How that looks, I think will continue to evolve."

Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.