BOSTON, MA – (January 17, 2023) – The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced its Three Stars of the Week following weekend action played January 14-15, 2023. Top performers include forwards Allie Thunstrom of the Boston Pride, Ann-Sophie Bettez of the Montreal Force, and Jonna Albers of the Minnesota Whitecaps.
First Star: Allie Thunstrom had her best offensive games of the season so far in Boston, combining for six points including four goals and two assists in a home sweep over Buffalo. On Saturday, she tied a career-high with her third four-point performance as the Pride equaled their franchise single game record with eight goals scored. She provided primary helpers on the team’s first two goals of the contest scored by Jillian Dempsey and McKenna Brand, then tallied two of her own in the third period of the 8-0 win. Thunstrom also provided all of the Pride’s offense on Sunday against the Beauts, opening the scoring with a shorthanded marker, then netting the overtime winner in the 2-1 triumph. The 34-year-old from Maplewood, MN is in the midst of her first season in Boston, signing as a free agent following four years as a member of the Whitecaps. She has 12 points including seven goals so far through 13 games and continues to be one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers with 55 in 77 career games which ranks third all-time. Thunstrom has been selected as a PHF All-Star for the fourth time and will compete for Team USA on January 29 in Toronto.
Second Star: Ann-Sophie Bettez had the best game of her first PHF season on Saturday, leading Montreal to a thrilling 5-4 victory over Connecticut in the PHF’s neutral site event in Pittsburgh. The 35-year-old from Sept-Îles, Quebec, recorded a career-high four-point performance with her first hat-trick plus an assist as the Force erased four different deficits to beat the Whale. The captain scored the team’s first goal on the power play to tie the game 1-1, provided a secondary assist on Samantha Isbell’s goal to make it 2-2 after the first period, scored in the second period to make it 3-3, and again in the third to make it 4-4. She is now tied for seventh in PHF scoring with 14 points in 11 games, while her eight goals are tied for third overall, and her three power play goals are tied for first. Bettez extended her weekend with a trip to Norfolk, VA where she represented the PHF at the ECHL All-Star Classic on Monday night as a member of the Eastern Conference squad. She’s also a PHF All-Star and will compete as a member of Team Canada in the league’s event.
Third Star: Jonna Albers extended her point-streak to seven games and helped Minnesota earn all six points in a weekend road sweep over the Metropolitan Riveters. The 28-year-old from Elk River, MN scored the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 3-2 victory, then provided a pair of primary assists in the second period of Sunday’s 4-1 final. Her helpers set up Liz Schepers for the team’s first goal on the power play, and Natalie Snodgrass for an insurance marker. Albers is tied for fifth in PHF scoring with 15 points in 14 games including eight goals and seven assists. The fifth-year veteran is also closing in on the prestigious PHF century mark for career points, currently with 95 in 75 games which ranks third all-time. Both her points and games figures are Whitecaps franchise records since joining the PHF in 2018-19. On January 29 she’ll join Thunstrom as a member of PHF Team USA in Toronto, also making her fourth career All-Star appearance.
2022-23 PHF Three Stars of the Week:
January 14-15:
1. Allie Thunstrom (BOS) 2. Ann-Sophie Bettez (MON) 3. Jonna Albers (MIN)
January 6-8:
1. Taylor Girard (CTW) 2. Loren Gabel (BOS) 3. Elaine Chuli (TOR)
December 16-18:
1. Natalie Snodgrass (MIN) 2. Shiann Darkangelo (TOR) 3. Taylor Girard (CTW)
December 9-11:
1. Jillian Dempsey (BOS) 2. Loren Gabel (BOS) 3. Brittany Howard (TOR)
December 3-4:
1. Kennedy Marchment (CTW) 2. Minttu Tuominen (MET) 3. Sydney Brodt (MIN)
November 26-27:
1. Jade Downie-Landry (MON) 2. Ann-Sophie Bettez (MON) 3. Fanni Gasparics (MET)
November 18-20:
1. Sarah Bujold (MET) 2. Corinne Schroeder (BOS) 3. Leah Lum (TOR)
November 5-6:
1. Corinne Schroeder (BOS) 2. Brittany Howard (TOR) 3. Élizabeth Giguère (BOS)
About the Premier Hockey Federation
The PHF is the home of professional women’s hockey in North America. Established in 2015 as the National Women’s Hockey League, the NWHL rebranded to become the PHF in 2021 and provide opportunities for elite athletes to earn a living playing the game they love while fueling the continued growth of the sport. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, Montreal Force, and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup. As part of a two-year agreement with ESPN, live coverage of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 PHF seasons is available exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States, and provides international rights for games which includes TSN in Canada. For more information visit premierhockeyfederation.com.
