The State of Hockey is welcoming another professional hockey franchise. 

The Minnesota Whitecaps, formed in 2004, will be joining the National Women’s Hockey League, giving the league five teams for the 2018-2019 season. 

The women’s hockey players of Minnesota are among the best in the world at what they do and now they'll have an opportunity to play professionally,” NWHL founder and commissioner Dani Rylan said in the league’s release. “After all, the young girls of this state should be able to dream as big as their brothers. Having Minnesota in the NWHL expands our national footprint and grows our game in so many ways. This is a monumental step for the NWHL.”

The Whitecaps will join the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, and Metropolitan Riveters for the upcoming season, and will be owned by the league in their first year of existence. 

“The Whitecaps have been such an integral part of girls and women’s hockey in Minnesota, and I’m so happy for the players past, present, and future, for what this opportunity represents,” Wayzata girls’ head coach Jess Christopherson said via text message on Tuesday.  

“This move represents so many things, but the biggest for me is the growth and expanded opportunities that we are seeing. Minnesota is a leader in girls and women’s hockey endeavors and this will be no different,” Christopherson added. 

Former Roseville Area High School and University of Minnesota star, and Breck girls' varsity head coach, Ronda Engelhardt (formerly Curtin) said that having a professional women’s team will give players a concrete example to strive toward.

“Current girl players in Minnesota will get to experience role models first hand and set goals that are options for them,” Engelhardt said. “Many girls, my daughters included, watch the NHL on TV and want to aspire to that, but now they get to see professional women athletes playing the sport they love."