Team Minnesota winger Grace Zumwinkle was at Ridder Arena on Friday night in a supporting role, cheering on her former team — and sister Emily — in the Gophers’ win over Connecticut.

Saturday afternoon at Xcel Energy Center, she was the star of the show in a record-setting 3-0 victory over Montreal.

Before an announced crowd of 13,316, the largest ever for a women’s professional hockey game, Zumwinkle scored all three goals as Minnesota improved to 2-0. Her heroics came just three days after scoring the game-winner in Minnesota’s victory in Boston.

The hat trick is the first in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

“I’m kind of at a loss for words right now,” the Excelsior native said. “A huge credit to the state of Minnesota for the huge turnout. It definitely made it a good, professional environment out there.

“It’s such a special moment,” she added, “and to be able to have my parents in the stands makes it that much more meaningful.”

Zumwinkle sat with her parents at Ridder on Friday, knowing that the Gophers would be playing at the same time as Team Minnesota on Saturday.

“My little sister gave them the green light to come to our game,” Zumwinkle said. “She had some other family and friends there supporting her, but a night like this is hard to pass up.”

Zumwinkle then went out and made it all the more memorable.

“She was awesome,” said Minnesota coach Ken Klee. “She’s obviously a special player. She’s been a national team player, and she can score.

“We were excited for her after the game, and she didn’t have a big smile or anything. It was just kind of like, ‘That’s what I’m supposed to do, coach.’ Yeah, she’s right, it’s what she’s supposed to do. But it’s still pretty awesome.”

Zumwinkle acknowledged that it would have been hard to envision this type of start in her first two professional games.

“Personally I just like to focus on the process,” she said, “and focusing on getting shots. If goals come, they do. But I’m definitely not an outcome-driven person.”

Andover native Maddie Rooney earned the shutout for Minnesota, playing a strong game in the wake of Nicole Hensley’s standout performance in the season opener.

“It’s a great luxury for a coach,” Klee said. “To be able to have her go in there calm, cool and collected … She knows Nic played great, and she knows she has to play great if she wants to get games.

“I was excited for her. Maddie is a hometown girl; to get to play here is pretty special.”

Rooney, a two-time Olympian, said she found out on Friday that she would be starting. She said it was unexpected due to how well Hensley played in the opener.

Her reaction when she got the word? “Let’s go.”

Montreal controlled play for the first half of the first period, and Klee said it was obvious to him that his team was nervous. Minnesota settled in after that, and Zumwinkle broke the scoreless tie at 17:21 of the period, scoring on a backhander from low in the left-wing circle.

“Scoring the first goal really energized the crowd,” Klee said.

Zumwinkle’s second goal came at 1:47 of the second period, a wrist shot from the blue line that found the net through traffic. She completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal.

By that time, the crowd, which included a large contingent of girls in hockey jerseys, knew the home debut would be a successful one. The players were thrilled to be able to reward those who were there to show their support.

“I asked them afterward how many of them had played before 14,000 people before,” Klee said. “Not one of them raised their hands, but they did today.”

Said Rooney of the overall experience: “That was electric.”

Add Klee, who has been on the job less than two weeks, to the list of those who won’t forget the eventful day. One that, until recently, was supposed to involve a day at the beach.

“My wife flew to Costa Rica today by herself,” he said, adding that she will be on vacation with friends.

Klee was content to be among 14,000 new friends at the X.

“I wouldn’t trade this for the world,” he said. “It’s amazing to be here and a part of this.”

Briefly

Longtime sports executive Stan Kasten, a member of the PWHL’s advisory board, met with the media prior to the game to discuss the first week of operation and the league’s long-term goals.

Among the topics covered, Kasten pointed out that the league will relax a bit the non-checking aspect of the women’s game at the request of the players. Another rule change put into place: When a team scores a shorthanded goal the remainder of the penalty is erased.

League expansion is likely three to -five years down the road, with the ultimate goal of having teams across the U.S. and Canada.

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