2023–24 PWHL Minnesota season

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2023–24 PWHL Minnesota
League3 PWHL
2023–24 record8–4–3–7
Home record5–2–2–3
Road record3–2–1–4
Goals for51
Goals against45
Team information
General managerNatalie Darwitz[1]
CoachKen Klee[1]
Assistant coachJake Bobrowski
Mira Jalosuo[1]
CaptainKendall Coyne Schofield
Alternate captainsKelly Pannek
Lee Stecklein
ArenaXcel Energy Center
Average attendance7,138
Team leaders
GoalsGrace Zumwinkle (10)[2]
AssistsKendall Coyne Schofield
Kelly Pannek (10)[2]
PointsGrace Zumwinkle (17)[2]
Penalty minutesLee Stecklein (16)[2]
Plus/minusKendall Coyne Schofield (+13)[2]
WinsNicole Hensley (7)[3]
Goals against averageMaddie Rooney (1.97)[3]
2024–25 →

The 2023–24 PWHL Minnesota season is the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League. They play their home games at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Offseason[edit]

On September 1, 2023, Minnesota hired Natalie Darwitz as its general manager.[4] Minnesota then hired Charlie Burggraf as the team's first head coach on September 15.[5] Jake Bobrowski and Mira Jalosuo were hired as assistant coaches on October 6.[6] On September 25, The Hockey News reported that Minnesota would play their home games at Xcel Energy Center.[7]

On September 6, Minnesota announced the signings of their first three players, American national team members Lee Stecklein, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Kelly Pannek.[8] Coyne Schofield was named team captain, with Stecklein and Pannek named assistant captains.[9]

On December 27, 2023—one week before Minnesota's season-opening game—the team announced that Burggraf was stepping down as the team's head coach, and would be replaced by Ken Klee.[10]

Standings[edit]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts
1 Toronto (X) 22 11 4 0 7 60 47 +13 41
2 Montreal (X) 23 10 3 5 5 57 53 +4 41
3 Minnesota 22 8 4 3 7 51 45 +6 35
4 Ottawa 22 8 1 6 7 57 54 +3 32
5 Boston 23 7 4 3 9 46 54 −8 32
6 New York (E) 22 3 4 3 12 44 62 −18 20
Updated to match(es) played on April 28, 2024. Source: PWHL
(E) Eliminated; (X) Clinched playoff berth

Schedule and results[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Minnesota played its first ever game on January 3, 2024, in Lowell, Massachusetts, against Boston. Taylor Heise scored the franchise's first goal, and Minnesota went on to win the game by a score of 3–2.[11] The team made its home debut on January 6. Grace Zumwinkle scored a hat-trick and Maddie Rooney posted a shutout in a 3–0 victory over Montreal.[12] With 13,316 fans in attendance, the game set a new record for attendance at a professional women's hockey game.[13]

Regular season schedule[edit]

The regular season schedule was published on November 30, 2023.[14]

Regular season schedule (Home: 5–2–2–3; Road: 3–2–1–4)
January: 3–2–2–1, 15 points (Home: 2–0–1–1; Road: 1–2–1–0)
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap
1 January 3 @ PWHL Boston 3–2 Hensley Tsongas Center 4,012 1–0–0–0 3 [Recap 1]
2 January 6 PWHL Montreal 3–0 Rooney Xcel Energy Center 13,316 2–0–0–0 6 [Recap 2]
3 January 10 PWHL Toronto 3–1 Hensley Xcel Energy Center 4,707 3–0–0–0 9 [Recap 3]
4 January 14 PWHL New York 2–3 OT Rooney Xcel Energy Center 7,951 3–0–1–0 10 [Recap 4]
5 January 17 @ PWHL Ottawa 3–2 OT Hensley TD Place Arena 5,609 3–1–1–0 12 [Recap 5]
6 January 24 PWHL Montreal 1–2 Hensley Xcel Energy Center 5,001 3–1–1–1 12 [Recap 6]
7 January 27 @ PWHL Boston 3–4 OT Rooney Tsongas Center 4,059 3–1–2–1 13 [Recap 7]
8 January 28 @ PWHL New York 2–1 OT Hensley Total Mortgage Arena 2,393 3–2–2–1 15 [Recap 8]
February 2–0–1–3, 7 points (Home: 1–0–1–1; Road: 1–0–0–2)
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap
9 February 3 @ PWHL Toronto 1–4 Hensley Mattamy Athletic Centre 2,470 3–2–2–2 15 [Recap 9]
10 February 14 PWHL Ottawa 2–1 Rooney Xcel Energy Center 6,276 4–2–2–2 18 [Recap 10]
11 February 17 @ PWHL Ottawa 2–1 Hensley TD Place Arena 8,407 5–2–2–2 21 [Recap 11]
12 February 18 @ PWHL Montreal 1–2 Rooney Place Bell 10,172 5–2–2–3 21 [Recap 12]
13 February 25 PWHL Boston 0–2 Hensley Xcel Energy Center 10,186 5–2–2–4 21 [Recap 13]
14 February 27 PWHL Toronto 3–4 OT Hensley 3M Arena at Mariucci 2,718 5–2–3–4 22 [Recap 14]
March 3–2–0–0, 13 points (Home: 2–2–0–0; Road: 1–0–0–0)
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap
15 March 3 @ PWHL New York 2–0 Rooney UBS Arena 4,459 6–2–3–4 25 [Recap 15]
16 March 5 PWHL Ottawa 4–3 SO Rooney Xcel Energy Center 4,585 6–3–3–4 27 [Recap 16]
17 March 13 PWHL Boston 4–0 Hensley Xcel Energy Center 4,669 7–3–3–4 30 [Recap 17]
18 March 16 PWHL New York 5–1 Rooney Xcel Energy Center 9,006 8–3–3–4 33 [Recap 18]
19 March 24 PWHL Montreal 3–2 SO Hensley Xcel Energy Center 7,268 8–4–3–4 35 [Recap 19]
April 0–0–0–3, 0 points (Home: 0–0–0–1; Road: 0–0–0–2)
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap
20 April 18 @ PWHL Montreal 3–4 Rooney Verdun Auditorium 3,084 8–4–3–5 35 [Recap 20]
21 April 20 @ PWHL Ottawa 0–4 Hensley TD Place Arena 8,110 8–4–3–6 35 [Recap 21]
22 April 27 PWHL Boston 1–2 Hensley Xcel Energy Center 9,977 8–4–3–7 35 [Recap 22]
May 0–0–0–0, 0 points (Home: 0–0–0–0; Road: 0–0–0–0)
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap
23 May 1 @ PWHL Toronto Mattamy Athletic Centre
24 May 4 @ PWHL New York UBS Arena

  Regulation Win (3 points)   Overtime/Shootout win (2 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)   Regulation Loss (0 points)


Player statistics[edit]

As of April 28, 2024[2]

Skaters[edit]

Regular season[2]
Player GP G A Pts SOG +/− PIM
Grace Zumwinkle 22 10 7 17 90 +6 4
Kendall Coyne Schofield 22 6 10 16 75 +13 6
Kelly Pannek 22 4 10 14 44 +10 2
Taylor Heise 17 4 8 12 49 +7 6
Sophie Jaques 13 2 8 10 49 +3 4
Lee Stecklein 22 2 6 8 28 +1 16
Michela Cava 22 4 3 7 40 +2 4
Natalie Buchbinder 22 2 4 6 25 +7 0
Abby Boreen 9 4 1 5 27 +2 4
Denisa Křížová 22 2 3 5 47 –1 8
Maggie Flaherty 22 1 4 5 31 +4 14
Sophia Kunin 22 2 1 3 28 –1 6
Claire Butorac 19 1 2 3 12 +1 2
Liz Schepers 17 0 3 3 26 +1 4
Brittyn Fleming 21 1 1 2 25 +4 6
Mellissa Channell 22 0 2 2 11 +1 0
Brooke Bryant 20 1 0 1 9 +1 4
Sydney Brodt 5 0 1 1 1 –3 2
Clair DeGeorge 21 0 1 1 12 –2 4
Dominique Kremer 12 0 0 0 1 –1 0
Emma Greco 20 0 0 0 24 +8 10

Goaltenders[edit]

Regular season[3]
Player GP TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Nicole Hensley 13 789:25 7 5 1 26 1.98 351 0.926 1 0 1 2
Maddie Rooney 9 547:03 5 2 2 18 1.97 224 0.920 2 0 0 0

Awards and honors[edit]

Milestones[edit]

Regular season
Player Milestone Reached
Taylor Heise 1st goal in franchise history January 3, 2024[Recap 1]
1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
Sophia Kunin 1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
Grace Zumwinkle 1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
Mellissa Channell 1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Brittyn Fleming 1st assist in franchise history
1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Nicole Hensley 1st win in franchise history
1st career PWHL win
1st career PWHL game
Brooke Bryant 1st career PWHL game
Natalie Buchbinder
Michela Cava
Abby Cook
Kendall Coyne Schofield
Clair DeGeorge
Maggie Flaherty
Emma Greco
Dominique Kremer
Denisa Křížová
Kelly Pannek
Liz Schepers
Lee Stecklein
Susanna Tapani
Grace Zumwinkle 1st career PWHL hat-trick January 6, 2024[Recap 2]
Maddie Rooney 1st career PWHL shutout
1st career PWHL win
1st career PWHL game
Claire Butorac 1st career PWHL game
Lee Stecklein 1st career PWHL assist January 10, 2024[Recap 3]
Denisa Křížová
Taylor Heise
Lee Stecklein 1st career PWHL goal January 14, 2024[Recap 4]
Kelly Pannek
Michela Cava 1st career PWHL assist
Grace Zumwinkle 1st career penalty shot
Maddie Rooney 1st career PWHL loss
Susanna Tapani 1st career PWHL goal January 17, 2024[Recap 5]
1st career PWHL power-play goal
Grace Zumwinkle 5th career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL short-handed goal
1st career PWHL assist
Michela Cava 1st career PWHL goal January 24, 2024[Recap 6]
Sophia Kunin 1st career PWHL assist
Abby Boreen 1st career PWHL game
Brittyn Fleming 1st career PWHL goal January 27, 2024[Recap 7]
Claire Butorac 1st career PWHL assist
Lee Stecklein 5th career PWHL assist
Abby Cook 1st career PWHL goal January 28, 2024[Recap 8]
Kendall Coyne Schofield 1st career PWHL assist
Abby Boreen 1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL overtime goal
Nicole Hensley 1st career PWHL assist
Natalie Buchbinder 1st career PWHL assist February 3, 2024[Recap 9]
Abby Boreen 1st career PWHL power-play goal February 14, 2024[Recap 10]
1st career PWHL assist
Sophie Jaques 1st career PWHL assist
Maggie Flaherty 1st career PWHL goal
Maggie Flaherty 1st career PWHL assist February 17, 2024[Recap 11]
Sophie Jaques 1st career PWHL goal February 27, 2024[Recap 14]
Natalie Buchbinder
Denisa Křižová 1st career PWHL goal March 5, 2024[Recap 16]
Kendall Coyne Schofield 5th career PWHL assist
Grace Zumwinkle
Kendall Coyne Schofield 5th career PWHL goal March 13, 2024[Recap 17]
Kelly Pannek 10th career PWHL assist
Taylor Heise 5th career PWHL assist
Nicole Hensley 1st career PWHL shutout
Claire Butorac 1st career PWHL goal March 16, 2024[Recap 18]
Sydney Brodt 1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Clair DeGeorge 1st career PWHL assist March 24, 2024[Recap 19]
Sophie Jaques 5th career PWHL assist
Grace Zumwinkle 10th career PWHL goal April 18, 2024[Recap 20]
Brooke Bryant 1st career PWHL goal
Kendall Coyne Schofield 10th career PWHL assist April 27, 2024[Recap 22]

Honors[edit]

Transactions[edit]

Minnesota has been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 PWHL season.

Signings[edit]

Date Player Position Term Previous Team Ref
September 6, 2023 Kelly Pannek F 3 years Team Scotiabank [20][21]
September 6, 2023 Kendall Coyne Schofield F 3 years Team Adidas [20][21]
September 6, 2023 Lee Stecklein D 3 years Team Harvey's [20][21]
October 26, 2023 Taylor Heise F 3 years Minnesota [20][21]
October 31, 2023 Nicole Hensley G 3 years Team Sonnet [20][21]
November 1, 2023 Grace Zumwinkle F 3 years Minnesota [20][21]
November 8, 2023 Susanna Tapani F 2 years KRS Vanke Rays [21]
November 20, 2023 Maggie Flaherty D 2 years Minnesota Duluth [20][21]
November 27, 2023 Natalie Buchbinder D 2 years Wisconsin [20][21]
November 29, 2023 Brooke Bryant F 1 year Minnesota State [20][21]
November 29, 2023 Sydney Brodt F 1 year Minnesota Whitecaps [20][21]
November 30, 2023 Liz Schepers F 1 year Minnesota Whitecaps [20][21]
November 30, 2023 Claire Butorac F 1 year Minnesota State [20][21]
December 1, 2023 Sophia Kunin F 1 year Team Harvey's [20][21]
December 1, 2023 Brittyn Fleming F 1 year Minnesota Whitecaps [20][21]
December 1, 2023 Denisa Křížová F 2 years Minnesota Whitecaps [20]
December 7, 2023 Clair DeGeorge F 1 year Team Harvey's [20]
December 7, 2023 Michela Cava F 1 year Toronto Six [20]
December 19, 2023 Amanda Leveille G 1 year Minnesota Whitecaps [22]
December 19, 2023 Maddie Rooney G 2 years Team Adidas [23]
December 20, 2023 Dominique Kremer D 1 year Buffalo Beauts [24]
December 20, 2023 Abby Cook D 1 year HC Ladies Lugano [25]
December 21, 2023 Emma Greco D 1 year Toronto Six [26]
December 21, 2023 Mellissa Channell D 1 year Team Harvey's [27]

Trades[edit]

Date Details Ref
February 11, 2024 (2024-02-11) To Boston
Susanna Tapani
Abby Cook
To Minnesota
Sophie Jaques
[28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Minnesota Staff". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Skater Stats". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Goalie Stats". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 1, 2023). "Video: Natalie Darwitz Introduced As GM Of Minnesota's PWHL Team". TheHockeyNews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved December 17, 2023. USA Hockey legend and former NCAA coach Natalie Darwitz has been named the general manager of Minnesota's PWHL team. Watch her introduction press conference.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 15, 2023). "Six Coaches Announced For PWHL Teams Including MacLeod, Ryan, Cheverie". TheHockeyNews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved December 17, 2023. The PWHL has announced head coaches for their six franchises, a list including Carla MacLeod, Troy Ryan, and Kori Cheverie.
  6. ^ Kennedy, Ian (October 6, 2023). "Assistant Coaches: Bobrowski, Jalosuo Hired By PWHL Minnesota". TheHockeyNews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved December 17, 2023. Minnesota has hired a pair of assistant coaches – Jake Bobrowski and Mira Jalosuo – to work alongside head coach Charlie Burggraf.
  7. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 25, 2023). "Reports: Xcel Energy Center Will Be Home Rink For PWHL Minnesota". TheHockeyNews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved December 17, 2023. The Xcel Energy Center, home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild, will according to reports also be the home rink of PWHL Minnesota.
  8. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 6, 2023). "Stecklein, Coyne Schofield, Pannek Sign With Minnesota". TheHockeyNews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved December 17, 2023. American national team members Kendall Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein, and Kelly Pannek were the first three signings of the PWHL's Minnesota franchise.
  9. ^ "PWHL Minnesota appoints Kendall Coyne as team captain". Sportsnet. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. ^ CBC Sports (December 27, 2023). "Charlie Burggraf steps down as head coach of PWHL Minnesota days before season opener". CBC. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Blount, Rachel (January 3, 2024). "Minnesota wins 3–2 at Boston in its first PWHL game, starting new era in women's hockey". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Nelson, John (January 7, 2024). "PWHL Minnesota smashes attendance world record and wins in shutout". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "PWHL game in Minnesota sets attendance record with 13,316 fans". The Guardian. January 7, 2024. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Professional Wwomen's Hockey Lewague (PWHL) Announces 2024 Regular-Season Schedule". PWHL. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Kennedy, Ian (January 8, 2024). "Zumwinkle Named PWHL's First Star Of The Week". TheHockeyNews.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024. Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle earned the PWHL's inaugural First Star of the Week honor.
  16. ^ Kennedy, Ian (January 15, 2024). "Poulin Named PWHL's First Star Of The Week". TheHockeyNews.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024. Marie-Philip Poulin, Ella Shelton, Taylor Heise receive 3 Stars of the Week honors for the week of January 8–14.
  17. ^ "Spooner, Campbell, Coyne Schofield named PWHL's three stars of the week". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Nurse, Jaques, Fast named PWHL's Three Stars of the Week". TheHockeyNews.com. March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Coyne Schofield, Cava, Flanagan Named PWHL 3 Stars of the Week". www.thepwhl.com. March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Minnesota Signing Summary (Live Tracker)". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Shircliff, Elaine (November 25, 2023). "2023 PWHL Minnesota Player Signing Tracker". FullPressHockey.com. Full Press Hockey. Retrieved December 17, 2023. With each passing day, the rosters for each team in the PWHL begin to take shape.
  22. ^ PWHL Minnesota [@PWHL_Minnesota] (December 19, 2023). "Goalie Amanda Leveille has signed a one-year contract! With PHF all-time records for wins and shutouts, and two Isobel Cup championships under her belt, we're ready for a legendary season!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ PWHL Minnesota [@PWHL_Minnesota] (December 19, 2023). "Gold medalist Maddie Rooney strengthens our lineup! The starting goaltender of the 2018 Winter Olympics-winning U.S. team has signed a 2-year contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ PWHL Minnesota [@PWHL_Minnesota] (December 20, 2023). "Making an impact from the blue line! Former Buffalo Beauts Captain Dom Kremer has signed a one-year contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ PWHL Minnesota [@PWHL_Minnesota] (December 20, 2023). "Boston University standout Abby Cook has locked in a one-year deal. 🔒 Cook set the program's record for most career points by a defender, notching 99 points in 147 games" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ PWHL Minnesota [@PWHL_Minnesota] (December 21, 2023). "💪 Locked in and ready to dominate! Former Toronto Six defender Emma Greco has inked a 1-year contract!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ PWHL Minnesota [@PWHL_Minnesota] (December 21, 2023). "Building up our blue line! The PWHPA's Team Harvey's defender and Wisconsin Badger alumni Mellissa Channell joins the team for the 2023–24 season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Announces Trade Between Boston and Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.

Recaps[edit]

  1. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Boston". ThePWHL.com. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "PWHL New York @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Ottawa". ThePWHL.com. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Boston". ThePWHL.com. January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL New York". ThePWHL.com. January 28, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Toronto". ThePWHL.com. February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Ottawa". ThePWHL.com. February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  12. ^ "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  13. ^ "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL New York". ThePWHL.com. March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL New York". ThePWHL.com. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "PWHL New York @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Ottawa". ThePWHL.com. April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.

External links[edit]