2023 schedule starts with seven games
The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) is back from the holidays with the busiest weekend in the regular season schedule so far. All six teams are in action with seven games being played in total. The Boston Pride visit both the Connecticut Whale and Metropolitan Riveters, the Riveters also host the Whale for one, plus doubleheaders between the Buffalo Beauts and visiting Minnesota Whitecaps, and an all-Canadian weekend matchup with the Toronto Six taking on the Montreal Force.
Here’s a closer look at the action.
FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2023
7:00 PM ET – Boston Pride (7-2-0) vs Connecticut Whale (3-3-1)
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Kelly Schultz and Alexis Pearson)
The 2023 portion of the PHF calendar starts where 2022 ended, and that’s in Connecticut with a rematch of last season’s Isobel Cup final between the Whale and the back-to-back champion Boston Pride. The Whale got the last laugh Dec. 18 in Simsbury with a 6-4 victory to even the season series, kick started by Caitrin Lonergan’s first two career PHF goals in a game full of highlights. Mallory Souliotis recorded three assists against her former team, Taylor Girard extended her point-streak to six-straight games, and Meeri Räisänen earned her first win of the season. The Pride surrendered a season-high 53 shots on goal, but enjoyed a four-point breakout from newcomer Olivia Zafuto, and a two-goal effort from Loren Gabel. They’ll get a boost by the return of defenders Kali Flanagan (USA) and Aneta Tejralová (CZE) along with forward Élizabeth Giguère (CAN) who all missed last game for national team commitments. So far this season, the Whale power play is operating at a league-low efficiency while the Pride penalty kill ranks as the PHF’s best. It was the opposite during the 2021-22 campaign where Boston’s PP struggled and Connecticut’s special teams were the cream of the crop.
SATURDAY JANUARY 7, 2023
3:00 PM ET – Toronto Six (7-1-2) vs Montreal Force (4-4-0)
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Kelly Schultz and Alexis Pearson, TVA Sports 2)
History will be made on Saturday with the PHF’s first all-Canadian battle between Toronto and Montreal. While north of the border bragging rights are on the line, both teams hope to continue their winning ways including the top ranked Six who have three-straight victories following a weekend sweep in Buffalo and points in their last seven games. The Force entered the holiday break on a high note with a road win over Minnesota, backed by Marie-Soleil Deschênes’ first career victory, which was also the first time the team won in the second game of a weekend doubleheader. Montreal’s three other victories came in series openers, while all three of Toronto’s losses have occurred in first encounters. This matchup features three of the PHF’s top six scorers including T6 snipers Brittany Howard (16 points) and Emma Woods (11 points) opposite Jade Downie-Landry (12 points) from the Force. Among the notable familiar faces competing head-to-head for the first time are University of Maine graduates Carly Jackson and Brooke Stacey who also played together in Buffalo during the shortened 2021 campaign.
7:00 PM ET – Boston Pride vs Metropolitan Riveters (4-6-0)
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Josh Eastern and Erica Ayala)
Boston’s weekend road trip concludes on Saturday, just as Metropolitan’s home stand begins. The Pride face the Riveters for the first time since earning a 2-0 shutout on opening weekend as part of Corinne Schroeder’s sensational debut. Goaltending could be the story once again, but this time at the other end of the ice courtesy of new Rivs netminder Katie Burt. The recent free agent acquisition was originally a first overall pick in 2017 by the Pride and would love a start against the teammates she celebrated an Isobel Cup title with in March. This game features the three most experienced players in PHF history with Boston’s Jillian Dempsey, Kaleigh Fratkin, and the Riveters’ Madison Packer all ranking one, two, and three in all-time games played. Metropolitan forward Kelly Babstock ranks fourth on the list. Dempsey enters the weekend ranked second on her team in scoring with 12 points, with Babstock and Packer listed second and third on their team with nine and eight points respectively. Sarah Bujold tops the Rivs chart with 11 points, while Amanda Pelkey, who was an original member of the Pride, is tied for fourth. She and Bujold are both riding three-game point-streaks.
7:00 PM ET – Minnesota Whitecaps (4-4-2) vs Buffalo Beauts (1-4-1)
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Kelly Schultz and Alexis Pearson)
Minnesota and Buffalo meet for the first time this season in the Queen City where the Beauts have played all six of their games. The last time the Whitecaps made this trip was for their first weekend series after the 2021-22 holiday break, Jan. 22-23. They picked up a 3-1 victory where Patti Marshall recorded three assists, and a 6-1 win where Jonna Albers had four points. Both are currently tied for second in team scoring with nine points, behind only newcomer Natalie Snodgrass who has 10 points in as many games. Amanda Leveille won both of those games and expects to be a factor once again as she faces the franchise she began her career with. Claudia Kepler was one of Buffalo’s goal scorers in that meeting and has been reliable once again, tied with a team-high three tucks along with newcomer Antonia Matzka. Minnesota leads the PHF with seven power play goals, representing nearly a quarter of their total offense. They might have to find more even-strength scoring as Buffalo averages fewer than three minor penalties per game. The Whitecaps lead the Beauts 11-3 in the all-time regular season head-to-head.
SUNDAY JANUARY 8, 2023
1:00 PM ET – Connecticut Whale vs Metropolitan Riveters
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Kelly Schultz and Erica Ayala)
Another rivalry with recent history is rekindled as the Riveters welcome the Whale to wrap up the weekend. The clubs met Dec. 17 in Simsbury where the visiting Riveters celebrated a 5-2 victory. Five different players produced multi-point performances in that contest including Kennedy Ganser and Fanni Gasparics, both with season-highs for their new team. A bright spot for the Whale offense was the first points of the season for Emma Vlasic and Amanda Conway, two integral pieces to the club’s record-setting success a year ago. Eveliina Mäkinen also made a career-high 40 saves for the Riveters who were outshot 42-26. Shot totals have been a factor all season for the two clubs, as the Whale enter the weekend with the league’s best differential at plus-48, while the Riveters have the worst at minus-38. The teams entered the holiday break separated by just one point, however both have home tests against Boston before going head-to-head which could flip the script in any direction.
1:00 PM ET – Minnesota Whitecaps vs Buffalo Beauts
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Donny Baarns and Alexis Pearson)
2:00 PM ET – Toronto Six vs Montreal Force
(ESPN+ & TSN.ca with Josh Eastern and Maura Sheridan, TVA Sports 2)
WHALE ON WSIM RADIO
A unique element of the Whale’s integration into the Simsbury community takes shape on Friday night as the team makes their debut over the airwaves of WSIM 103.5 FM. The local radio station also streams online and is expected to carry live coverage of all remaining games at ISCC this season. The Whale will also offer a live audio feed of an upcoming home game in Milford on Jan. 17 against Buffalo via Mixlr, a free streaming platform.
ALL-CANADIAN CLASSIC
Jan. 7, 2023 will be added to the PHF history books as the first game featuring two Canadian teams. The date follows a north of the border timeline that includes Toronto’s PHF debut on Jan. 23, 2021 during the league’s sixth season, the first game on Canadian ice played Nov. 21, 2021 in Season 7, Montreal’s first game on Nov. 5, 2022 to launch Season 8, and the first PHF game played in Quebec on Nov. 26, 2022. 39 of the league’s record 67 Canadian players are on these two rosters which will make for a special experience as a new hockey rivalry is officially born. Both games will be played in Rimouski at Colisée Financière Sun Life, home of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Oceanic, where Sidney Crosby starred from 2003-05.
BEAUTS FIGHT CANCER, SUPPORT COMMUNITY
Saturday night in Buffalo, the Beauts will be raising awareness and funds in the fight against cancer. Keep an eye open for their special black and purple theme jerseys that will help highlight the team’s annual initiative, along with purple tape that will be used by both the Beauts and visiting Whitecaps. A ceremonial puck drop will be performed by Randy Schultz, a dedicated New York hockey writer and cancer survivor. The Beauts will also be showing community solidarity on Sunday with 50/50 proceeds supporting relief efforts to aid those impacted by the area’s winter storms.
RIVETERS BACK AT HOME
The Riveters return to The Rink at American Dream following a league-high stretch of seven-straight away games. The team holds a 1-1 record at their new home, having split their Nov. 19-20 series with Toronto. Fans can celebrate 2023 with 23% off tickets for all January home games by entering promo code RIVS23! As part of online purchases. Helping welcome the team back this weekend will be New Jersey State Trooper, Sgt. Cassandra Pugh, who will perform Saturday’s ceremonial puck drop.
FROM ONE RIVALRY TO THE NEXT
A pair of PHF players were back in the international spotlight in December, taking part in another epic chapter of the Canada-USA Rivalry Series. Élizabeth Giguère helped Canada pick up two wins in Henderson, NV and Los Angeles, CA against her Boston Pride teammate Kali Flanagan on Team USA. Giguère has played in all five Rivalry Series game to date, marking her first experience with the senior national team. Flanagan made her 2022-23 series debut last month, but competed in the 2019-20 event among her list of national team achievements that includes 2018 Olympic gold. Loren Gabel (CAN) and Becca Gilmore (USA) are the Pride’s other two Rivalry Series representatives this season and will reunite to face PHF rivals in the Whale and Riveters this weekend.
BEAUTS SIGN HOFMANN
The Beauts have announced that goaltender Tera Hofmann has signed a standard player agreement for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. The deal carries a prorated minimum salary of $7,788.46 from the time of her signing. The 24-year-old from Toronto, Ontario had previously been signed by the Beauts to PTO’s for three games, appearing in the Nov. 6 contest where she made 31 saves in the team’s 3-2 victory over Montreal. This is her third PHF season, having spent the 2021-22 campaign with T6 and the shortened 2021 season as a member of the Riveters. Her signing provides the Beauts with two active goaltenders while Kassidy Sauvé remains on long-term injury reserve.
WOHLFEILER CLIMBING THE RANKS
Whale veteran forward Alyssa Wohlfeiler landed on a pair of PHF milestones before the break, recording her 50th career point in her 60th career game. Over her five seasons, the 33-year-old has scored 20 goals with 30 assists, including three goals and three assists in six games so far in 2022-23 which is third best on the team. Only 15 players have hit the half century mark for points before her, and only 32 have amassed 60 or more games to date.
BABSTOCK TO HIT 100 GAMES
Kelly Babstock has played 98 career PHF regular season games and is scheduled to become just the sixth player in league history to hit the century mark on Sunday. All five players ahead of the Riveters forward reached the prestigious milestone last season, including teammate Madison Packer who ranks third all-time at 117 games. This season, the 30-year-old is off to a great start with nine points in 10 games to bring her career total to 84 points, good for fourth on the all-time list.
WHITECAPS VISIT CHILDREN’S MINNESOTA
The Whitecaps kept up the holiday spirit this week with a special visit to Children’s Minnesota to deliver the teddy bears collected from fans at their festive theme game on Dec. 17. The team’s leadership crew of captain Sydney Brodt and alternates Jonna Albers, Sydney Baldwin, and Sidney Morin made the trip to meet young patients and lift their spirits. For more on the team’s visit, watch this YouTube feature, and hear from players and Child Life Zone Coordinator Krista Majerus.
ISBELL QUIETLY CONTRIBUTING
It’s easy to look at the Montreal Force roster and stats and be drawn to Jade Downie-Landry and Ann-Sophie Bettez given their impressive production, but watch out for Samantha Isbell who is keeping pace offensively. The 24-year-old newcomer currently ranks third in team scoring with seven points powered by a four-game streak that includes a trio of multi-point performances. She scored her first career goal Dec. 18 against Connecticut and is already etched in team record books for her shootout winner in the team’s very first game. She and teammate Kaity Howarth recently spoke about their first PHF season in this feature for Thunder Bay’s Chronicle-Journal.
VANISOVA GETS EA SPORTS NOD
EA Sports is recognizing the best men’s and women’s players in 2022, and Toronto Six forward Tereza Vanišová is among the nominees for Team of the Year. She is among the international stars in the popular NHL 23 game as a member of her native Czechia. The 26-year-old is back in action this weekend after representing her country in December’s Euro Hockey Tour and will look to build on her offensive production that includes six points in eight T6 games. Click here for more about EA Sports TOTY.
CREASE CUTS
Looking at goaltending leaders to open the 2023 calendar, Boston’s Corinne Schroeder has seven wins, four shutouts, a goals-against-average of 2.28, and save percentage of .937 that are all top of the charts among starters. Connecticut’s Abbie Ives ranks second with a .921 SV%, followed by Montreal’s Marie-Soleil Deschênes at .919, the Riveters’ Eveliina Mäkinen at .913, Minnesota’s Amanda Leveille at .910, and Toronto’s Elaine Chuli at .903. Buffalo’s Tera Hofmann carries a .939 mark from her single start.
STATS SNAPSHOT
Toronto’s Brittany Howard ranks first in the PHF with 16 points and 12 goals, followed by Boston’s Loren Gabel with 13 points and seven goals. Both Boston’s Jillian Dempsey and Montreal’s Jade Downie-Landry have 12 points, followed by Toronto’s Emma Woods and the Riveters’ Sarah Bujold with 11 points, and Minnesota’s Natalie Snodgrass has 10 points to cover those in double digits. Other team leaders include Connecticut’s Taylor Girard with nine points, and Buffalo’s Mikyla Grant-Mentis with seven points. Team shots on goal leaders heading into the weekend are Howard (46), Bujold (44), Gabel (43), Minnesota’s Sidney Morin (43), Connecticut’s Kennedy Marchment (31), Downie-Landry (26), and Grant-Mentis (23). Faceoff winning percentage leaders by team are the Riveters’ Kelly Babstock (.592), Minnesota’s Sydney Brodt (.588), Toronto’s Shiann Darkangelo (.579), Downie-Landry (.545), Boston’s Taylor Wenczkowski (.539), Connecticut’s Lenka Serdar (.533), and Grant-Mentis (.532).
U18 WORLDS BEGINS IN SWEDEN
The 2023 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship takes place Jan. 8-15 in Östersund, Sweden. Eight countries are taking part including Canada, Finland, Sweden, and United States in Group A, while Czechia, Japan, Slovakia, and Switzerland will compete in Group B. This event showcases the next wave of professional women’s hockey talent, as 56 current PHF players have experience representing their countries at IIHF U18 events.
Fans in the United States can enjoy live PHF action all season long exclusively on ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). In Canada, live coverage of the PHF is available to TSN subscribers through the network’s five television feeds as well as live streaming via TSN.ca and the TSN app. PHF games that are part of the ESPN International distribution network may be available in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa via ESPN Player, in Latin America via Star+, the Caribbean through ESPN Player via the ESPN App, and Oceania through Watch ESPN via the ESPN App. All Montreal Force games are available in French exclusively on TVA Sports.
Cover photo by Jonathan Sawn
