Fleet Players Have ‘Unfinished Business’ Heading Into Sophomore Season

NATICK, Mass. — The Boston Fleet are set to launch their sophomore season on the road against the Toronto Sceptres on Nov. 30.

But, the home opener against the Minnesota Frost at Tsongas Center on Dec. 4 is the game defender Jessica Digirolamo is most anticipating for the upcoming season.

“I think it’s fitting. I think it’s perfect,” Digirolamo told NESN.com. “Obviously, last year was not the way we wanted to end our first season. So, I think it’s great that we’re playing, and we’re starting with playing Minnesota. We have unfinished business and I think we need to set the tone right from the first game.”

The Fleet will face Frost, the defending Walter Cup champion, in a rematch of the inaugural championship clash. In that series, Minnesota shut out Boston in Game 5 to capture the first-ever PWHL title.

“I think it’s awesome,” forward Kelly Babstock added. “The team has definitely been thinking about playing them the next time since we lost to them (in Game 5). It’s going to be great.

“We have a little rivalry with Minnesota. We don’t like each other so it’s perfect. Let’s go. Season opener, why not?”

Babstock joined the Fleet in May after Taylor Girard sustained a lower-body injury in Boston’s 2-1 win over Minnesota. Without a contract entering the 2024-25 campaign, Babstock was invited to the Fleet’s training camp hoping to snag a spot on the roster. She tallied one assist in four regular-season games and was held scoreless in eight postseason games for Boston.

Digirolamo registered three assists in 24 games for Boston while averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time. She is signed through the 2024-25 season.