THUNDER BAY — Fresh from a second Walter Cup win, Thunder Bay's Michela Cava is heading into the draft on June 24 as a free agent.
Cava had a successful two-year stint with the Minnesota Frost, playing a role the team's back-to-back Professional Women’s Hockey League championship wins.
“I haven’t even revisited my last talks with Minnesota. I liked my time there, and of course, I’ll address that situation first." Cava said. "But it’s nice to hear what other teams have to say. It boosts your confidence and motivates you for another great season.”
Having played professionally in Europe before the PWHL's launch, Cava said transitioning back to North America brought new challenges and opportunities.
“I played with a lot of the players over in Europe, but it's cool to see it come full circle and all of us kind of being over here together and elevating this league every year.”
The Minnesota Frost, based in St. Paul, offered not only a competitive environment but also a sense of belonging for Cava. With her family just a short trip away in Thunder Bay, their proximity made her time there even more special.
“I feel fortunate to have landed in Minnesota. We have a family group chat to plan weekends so everyone can come down and support me. I had about 20 family members at one of the playoff games last year. It makes such a difference in the way you play and just having confidence and feeling happy”
Her first year with the team required carving out a role among Olympic veterans and seasoned national team players.
“My first year was a little bit harder for me to try and make my place with some of the bigger players. I was definitely just trying to try to make myself noticeable in any way I could. Whether that be doing the defensive job or finding a role that that my coach liked to give me to get some more ice time to show that I have a little bit more in me”
By her second season “I definitely had more confidence with the puck and I knew that I could go out there could play a little bit more freely,”
Cava credits much of her development to her linemates and mentors on the Frost, including stars like Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
“Just learning from them, they're amazing talented players and really good people too, and growing with them and learning with them and becoming a good linemate with them, was a really cool process to see over the past two years”
While Cava's future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: she wants to give back. This summer, she hopes to bring the Walter Cup back to Thunder Bay again, aiming to connect more deeply with her roots.
"I would definitely love to figure out a way to bring the cup to more little boys and little girls in the city. That's a big dream of mine to be able to do that for everybody.”
