BOSTON, MA – (November 29, 2022) – The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced its Three Stars of the Week following weekend action played November 26-27, 2022. This marks the third straight week where the trio of top performers are all newcomers and include Montreal Force forwards Jade Downie-Landry and Ann-Sophie Bettez, along with Fanni Gasparics of the Metropolitan Riveters.
First Star: Jade Downie-Landry introduced Montreal and the entire province of Quebec to the PHF with a sensational five-point performance on Saturday in the Force home ice debut before a record crowd at Centre 21.02. Her hat-trick included a power play tally, an even strength marker, and an empty-net goal while contributing two assists in the historic 5-3 victory over the Riveters. The PHF single game record is six points and the 27-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec is now tied for second place on that list with six other players who have produced five-point efforts over eight seasons. Downie-Landry is also now tied for the PHF scoring lead with eight points in four games including four goals and four assists for a league-high points-per-game average of 2.0. The first-year pro joined the Force after a U SPORTS career with the McGill University Martlets that included 2022 Player of the Year honors scoring 27 points in only 15 games.
Second Star: Ann-Sophie Bettez also made Force history on Saturday with a three-point performance that included two goals in the 5-3 win over the Riveters. Her power play marker at 19:47 of the first period was the team’s first ever goal scored on home ice, and her third period tally held as the game-winner to secure the club’s first ever victory in Quebec. Both goals were set up by Downie-Landry, while Bettez earned the primary assist on her linemate’s second period PPG. The 35-year-old captain from Sept-Îles, Quebec is already in the Force record books for scoring the franchise’s first ever PHF goal Nov. 5 in Buffalo, and now has five points through four games. Like Downie-Landry, Bettez is a McGill grad and former Brodrick Trophy winner as U SPORTS Player of the Year in 2012. She was a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team that won bronze at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship, and has experienced 10 seasons of professional hockey before joining the PHF. Her last three seasons were spent with the PWHPA following seven in the CWHL that included capturing the Angela James Bowl as the league’s top scorer in 2014, and a Clarkson Cup title in 2017.
Third Star: Fanni Gasparics scored two goals in two games for the Riveters in weekend action against Montreal to extend her personal point-streak to four. On Saturday the 28-year-old from Budapest, Hungary made history as the first player from her country ever to score a PHF goal. The power play marker at 6:27 of the first period also counted as the first ever PHF goal scored in Quebec. Her goal on Sunday was also scored in the first period and on special teams, this time shorthanded, and contributed to a Riveters 3-2 victory. Gasparics has been a fixture on the Hungarian Women’s National Team with appearances in seven IIHF Women’s World Championship events at the senior level, including the last two in the Top Division where she was twice recognized as one of the team’s Top-3 players. Her last four professional seasons have been played in the EWHL with MAC Budapest where she led the league with 49 points in 18 games during the 2021-22 campaign. She’s one of a record 20 international players competing in the PHF this season.
2022-23 PHF Three Stars of the Week:
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.
