Oct. 20—KASSON — When Taylor (Heise) Fox thinks about playing in a Women's World Championships for the fifth time in her hockey career, she feels a bit like a middle child.
Though she has the drive to get there someday, the 26-year-old Lake City native doesn't yet have the international pedigree of, say, five-time Olympic medalist and 15-time World Championships medalist Hilary Knight.
Fox is not a newcomer to the international stage, either. The former Red Wing High School and University of Minnesota star has a pair of gold medals and a pair of silvers from Women's World Championships, and she helped the U.S. win gold in her first Olympic Games, eight months ago in Italy.
She and long-time friend and teammate Grace Zumwinkle feel a bit like middle siblings in an ultra-talented family as they prepare for the 2026 World Championships in Denmark, Nov. 6-16. The United States will hold its training camp in Plymouth, Michigan, beginning Friday, Oct. 23, and running through Oct. 30.
"I would call myself a 'vet' on this team only in the fact that I've played in a few," Fox said, "But when you look at Hilary playing — what? — 15? There are just so many vets that we have. I always say Grace and I are, we're this in-between age. We're not the young'ns, but we're not really vets."
Fox and Zumwinkle are both projected to not only make the 25-player U.S. roster — USA Hockey will bring 31 players to camp in Michigan — but play key roles for the Americans as they look to defend their gold medal won at the last World Championships, in 2025, as well as their gold won at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games back in February.
"I never let myself get complacent," said Fox, whose 2026 also included getting married to former Gophers basketball player Parker Fox, in August. "I think our coach (John Wroblewski) looks at it as, if we are complacent in camp before going into the Worlds, he will cut people and change the team.
"But that's the biggest thing is, we have such a good group and the Olympics was such a powerful tournament for our group that there's so much to go off of and learn from. ... We're just really excited to get together."
Fox, who has also won two Walter Cups as PWHL champions with the Minnesota Frost, was back in southeastern Minnesota on Monday, coaching a captains' practice for the Dodge County high school girls. She then spent more than 45 minutes signing autographs and taking photos with fans at Dodge County Ice Arena.
She had her blue Team USA Olympics jersey on display, along with her gold medal and a PWHL championship ring.
The 2026-27 season will be the PWHL's fourth, and it will be the first time the Frost don't open a season as the defending league champions. Minnesota pushed eventual Walter Cup champ Montreal to five games in the 2026 league semifinals, but fell 2-1 in the decisive fifth game.
"I think of it in a different perspective than most," Fox said of the tough season-ending loss to Montreal. "Sometimes losing is what needs to happen for change. And I think with the expansion (the PWHL added four new franchises in the offseason and will feature 12 teams beginning this winter) and everything, winning (the Walter Cup) twice, we were probably the only team in the league that was the most hated by every team.
"... We got everyone's best every single night. That's not an excuse. We still need to win games, and getting into the playoffs was awesome. I was really happy that we did that. But the loss that we took, I think, is going to teach everyone in that locker room that we never want to feel that again, and we want to win. And you know what (winning) Walter feels like. The loss, it's going to push us forward, and now we know what we need to get better at."
While the PWHL's quick expansion — it has doubled in size from six teams in its inaugural season three years ago to 12 this season — has split up the Frost's powerhouse roster, Fox said the way the league has grown is a positive for the players, fans and women's hockey.
"(Growth) has been quick," she said. "I think as a player, you have those two thoughts to it. I lose my friends (on the Frost). I want to stay on the all-star team we had in Year 1, Year 2. But that's not going to help the league, and it's not going to help youth in Minnesota and the U.S. So I see it in both directions.
"I think it's great. I think we're moving in positive directions. There's a lot of things that in Year 1 we needed to fix, and we're moving along. I think the league is moving into places that have a real love for hockey, and I'm really excited about that."