The Premier Hockey Federation returned to Pittsburgh for the fourth time last weekend and made its mark once again among hockey fans in the Steel City.
And while the January 14 game between the Connecticut Whale and Montreal Force was the marquee event circled on the calendar, it was just one of the many highlights in a trip full of memories.
“It’s been incredible,” said PHF Commissioner Reagan Carey. “To be able to showcase our league in this NHL environment, but also to have all these girls, youth programs and hockey players here cheering on the PHF. They’re seeing what I’m sure many of them want to be as professional hockey players. Then getting connected to our roots in women’s hockey with the Pittsburgh Pennies and having our teams engage with pioneers of the sport, all in one afternoon, is pretty special.”
Thanks again to @penguins and @CTWhaleHockey & @LaForceMontreal & our staff for a memorable weekend of sold out #phf hockey in Pittsburgh this weekend! pic.twitter.com/K29TNE2tY9
— Reagan Carey (@reagan_carey) January 15, 2023
The Pennies were Pittsburgh’s first professional women’s hockey team, founded in 1972. Original members were in attendance for a ceremonial puck drop and official declaration by Allegheny County that the day be known as ‘Pittsburgh Pennies Women’s Hockey Day’. The Whale wore retro-inspired uniforms and were motivated by the Pennies with an enthusiastic pre-game lineup read.
“It’s definitely great for our league and great for the game to be able to be supported by the Pittsburgh Pennies,” said Whale forward Kennedy Marchment. “The ceremonial puck drop was really cool, and everything involved in the whole day was just an awesome experience. For them to come back and see where women’s hockey has come since they began, I think was awesome for them. It was super cool to have them on our side and replicate the jerseys and the colors that they had. I think they really enjoyed being involved. They were really supportive of us and we loved that.”
Honored to have the original Pennies read our starting lineup yesterday. 🧡💙 pic.twitter.com/Br6SJO60uC
— Connecticut Whale (@CTWhaleHockey) January 15, 2023
A crowd of over 500 fans packed the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex to watch a thrilling 5-4 comeback for the Force, headlined by captain Ann-Sophie Bettez who scored a hat-trick, plus a last-minute game-winner by Brigitte Laganière.
“I’m so glad we got the win today in Pittsburgh,” Bettez said post-game. “I think it’s a great city for women’s sport. It was pretty amazing to have our team here. I think it’s pretty special to have fans and people who are cheering, even though we aren’t necessarily the home team here. But I think we put on a good show and that’s what we want, to have close games, making sure that people watch the sport and that we keep growing the game. It just shows the strength of the league and how we are going to keep making it better every day.”
The PHF is in Pittsburgh and last night enjoyed the @penguins game where @LaForceMontreal captain @Bettez24 and @CTWhaleHockey forward @emmavlasic spoke with @CelinaPompeani about today’s matchup at 3PM at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. pic.twitter.com/d2YRACQ2jb
— PHF (@PHF) January 14, 2023
Bettez and her teammates attended Friday night’s NHL game between the Penguins and Winnipeg Jets along with members of the Whale and PHF staff. The Force captain and Whale forward Emma Vlasic were interviewed together by Penguins in-game host Celina Pompeani Mathison on the scoreboard during a TV timeout, with other promotional opportunities including Connecticut’s Melissa Samoskevich interviewed by Dan Potash in a first intermission interview on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, and commissioner Carey on the Penguins Live pre-game show with Paul Steigerwald.
“It’s been great. We’re very appreciative of the opportunity that we’ve had here to play in Pittsburgh,” said Force head coach Peter Smith. “It’s just a great sports town, and to bring women’s pro hockey here, I think we’re really privileged to have that opportunity. The players and staff had a great time at the Pens game, really well received, and then to come in and play in a wonderful facility like we have here today has been a lot of fun.”
Last night during the first intermission of the @penguins game @MSamoskevich of @CTWhaleHockey joined Dan Potash of @ATTSportsNetPIT to talk about today’s PHF game in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/AhGNizjNxn
— PHF (@PHF) January 14, 2023
Several Force got to meet NHL players from both sides after Friday’s game, including Laganière who was introduced to Jeff Petry, another defender who wears number 26 and one of her favorite players.
“I was always a fan of Jeff Petry. He’s a very offensive defenseman, and the way he moves on the blue line, I always see him doing some moves and putting the puck to the net,” Laganière said. “Being able to meet him was really fun. It was funny, I came back to the bench (after the winning goal) and everyone was just saying ‘Petry, Petry’ so they know that it meant a lot to me.”
Just a bunch of 26s casually chillin’.@penguins x @LaForceMontrealpic.twitter.com/RMXh3PSP6e
— La Force de Montréal (@LaForceMontreal) January 14, 2023
Pittsburgh’s overwhelming support in all facets helped the PHF take forward strides in its steadfast goal of growing the game.
“It’s important for us to get into new markets and make sure that we’re exposing new fans to the PHF and women’s pro hockey, and it’s great for our players to take pride in what they’re doing on the ice,” Carey said. “The Penguins are doing great work for girls and women’s hockey, and we’re here to support that as well. We’re in a new market and already the whole facility is packed with a lot of young girls and new fans, and that’s encouraging to see for our sport.”
Cover photo by Rayni Shiring
