Britta Curl, whose second-round selection in Monday’s PWHL draft by Minnesota ignited controversy because of views she has supported on social media, issued an apology to fans in a video released Friday.

Curl, 24, was a two-year team captain for 2023 NCAA women’s hockey champion Wisconsin before Minnesota made her the No. 9 overall pick in Monday’s draft at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Before the draft, there had been scrutiny over some of the likes she had posted on the X social media platform. These included posts attacking inclusive language toward transgender women, along with COVID-19 conspiracy theories.

“I recognize that recent events have caused many of you to form an opinion about me, about who I am and how I live my life, and I think I owe it to you guys to come on here and directly respond to these concerns,” Curl said in her video, also released on X. “I specifically recognize that my social media activity has resulted in hurt being felt across communities, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals, and I just want to apologize and take ownership of that.

“I have family members and extremely close friends who are part of these communities, and I love them very much. I’ve always tried to support them in their pursuits. I wish them the greatest success. I want them to be included, and I’m going to continue to do that.”

Minnesota coach Ken Klee faced questions at the draft about Curl’s selection. Only days after the PWHL removed Natalie Darwitz from her general manager position, Klee took over the draft for Minnesota at Roy Wilkins and heard boos when he selected Curl.

“We did our homework on her,” Klee said. “… We talked to coaches who said that she’s a great kid, a great competitor, great in the locker room. I talked to her teammates on USA and some other areas. They said, ‘She’s a great teammate, coach, you’d love to have her.’ “

Curl, a North Dakota native, said in her video that she is honored and grateful to have been drafted by PWHL Minnesota, which won the league’s first championship this month. She said she’s had teammates with different personalities, religious beliefs and political views, “and we’ve always been able to maintain mutual respect and love.

“However,” she added, “I hope to better demonstrate this to PWHL fans and just to the general public. I do not, and I’ve never held, hate or judgment towards any groups or individuals.

“I’ve learned so much through this and I’m seeing it as an opportunity to grow in humility and grow in love. …

To those of you who may still have reservations, I hope you can extend me the grace to prove to you who I really am.”

COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. — Minnesotans will celebrate dads this weekend. But some Father’s Day celebrations will have to wait until more than 500 Minnesota National Guard members come home from Kuwait.

For better or worse, the United States Military has become something of a family business. Maj. Sverre Sundgaard has no problem with that.

“My dad told me, ‘I always knew you were going to join the military. I just ask you to go to college and get a degree first,’” said Maj. Sundgaard.

He’s currently in Kuwait, one of roughly 550 Minnesota soldiers from the 34th Infantry Red Bulls. He’s been deployed before as a Marine in Afghanistan, but now he’s married with two young children.

“I think they’re doing good. My wife’s a great mother, so I think we’ll all be stronger as a family when I get home.”   

The Red Bulls’ mission in Kuwait is to train and support regional partners. The War on Terror might be over, but they’re still in a rough neighborhood. And that was never more apparent than on April 13, when Iran launched more than 300 missiles at Israel. The U.S., Israel and other allies shot down almost all of them.

Back in Cottage Grove, Sundgaard’s wife, Ania, told WCCO she purposely keeps a very busy schedule for the kids, Thor and Zosia. But it starts with a morning call from Dad.

“We know he’s going to be back soon. We just keep going,” said Ania Sundgaard. “Just think positive and take every day (laughs)!”

They’re not the only ones waiting either. The major’s dad, Kip Sundgaard, will certainly miss his son this Father’s Day. But he says there’s no greater gift than family values being passed down from generation to generation.

“You want your kids to learn that it’s important to be a giving person and not selfish, and to be willing to sacrifice for other people,” said Kip Sundgaard.

The Red Bulls are due home around Christmas. Maj. Sundgaard said that besides being back with family, he’s most excited to jump in a lake. It was 112 degrees in Kuwait on Friday.