40 players will hit the ice on Sunday night in Arizona but only 20 of them will be victorious and hoist the coveted Isobel Cup at Mullett Arena.
Of the entire group of finalists, only six have experienced that Premier Hockey Federation championship feeling before, including Minnesota’s Amanda Boulier and Toronto’s Tereza Vanišová who were teammates last season when Boston celebrated in Tampa Bay and will ensure the league has a back-to-back winner.
“I’m feeling really fortunate to be here, it’s a tough spot to get to and to be able to do it two years in a row feels pretty good and I’m excited to get on the ice on Sunday,” Boulier said. “This is a great arena so we feel pretty fortunate to have the Isobel Cup final here.”
A Whitecaps win would actually make Boulier a three-time champion counting her 2019 title when expansion Minnesota first made their mark on the league. The 29-year-old defender from Watertown, CT won alongside forward Jonna Albers, defender Emma Stauber, and goaltender Amanda Leveille who also has a 2017 title with Buffalo under her belt.
“That’s what’s so fun about having a long career is every team is so unique with its own strengths and weaknesses and its own culture and climate, so every championship is going to feel different and special and that’s the fun part about it,” said the six-year veteran with 11 career playoff games and five points. “Winning in 2019 with the Whitecaps in our inaugural season was really special and awesome to do it on home ice. Then to be able to do it last year with Boston in Tampa Bay with a whole new market and fans was equally as special but in a different way. This one would be back-to-back for me and the second for the Whitecaps which would be meaningful to bring it back to the State of Hockey.”
If Toronto wins, Vanišová would make PHF history as the first player to win three-straight titles from her time on both of the Pride’s 2021 and 2022 units. T6 captain Shiann Darkangelo is the only other member of the team with an earlier Isobel Cup, winning with Leveille on the 2017 Beauts.
“It was pretty special the past two years with Boston,” Vanišová said. “I’m happy to be part of another team that is going to play in the final. We have an awesome setup, I’m excited and I hope we are going to get it.”
Even though the 27-year-old Olympian from Strakonice, Czechia enjoyed both of her wins with Boston, she agrees with Boulier that no two titles are the same.
“The COVID (shortened) year was a little off, we didn’t get to play many games and last year I basically jumped in at playoffs,” said the third-year forward with eight career playoff games and six points ahead of the final. “But playing the final game is something you don’t experience every day and is just so exciting. I remember last year we were losing and came back. We were down and we came out strong.”
The resiliency that Vanišová describes from last year’s comeback over Connecticut is an example of important experiences that can help prepare players for the biggest game of the season.
“I’ve been there two times which I guess makes me feel a little more confident, but every game is different,” she said. “I’ve been in these kinds of games and feel good but it’s always exciting.”
Unlike Vanišová, Boulier has experienced both sides of the coin with a 2021 loss in between her victories. As a finalist for a record fifth-straight season (including the COVID canceled 2020 final) she also believes her past can help shape her future.
“There’s so many great players in this league who have played for championships with experience at different levels,” she said. “To play in the last five Isobel Cup finals, personally I feel like I’m well suited for the pressure that’s going to come on Sunday. The Whitecaps rise under pressure.”
Boston’s Jillian Dempsey is the only player to win three Isobel Cups, until Sunday, and being part of such elite company is something not lost on Boulier and Vanišová in the wake of the moment.
“As soon as we won against the Pride and clinched our ticket here it’s hard not to think about anything but winning,” Boulier said. “It would be amazing to do that for a third time.”
Puck drop is 9:00 pm. ET live on ESPN2, ESPN+, TSN3, TSN5 where history will unfold.
“It would be definitely awesome to win again and make that history,” Vanišová said. “We have a talented group and I believe in our team.”
Cover photos by Michelle Jay and Lori Bolliger
