BOSTON, MA – (January 24, 2023) – The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced its Three Stars of the Week following action played January 17-22, 2023. Top performers include forwards Loren Gabel of the Boston Pride, Kennedy Marchment of the Connecticut Whale, and Brittany Howard of the Toronto Six. All three players will compete as members of PHF Team Canada when the PHF All-Stars hit the ice Jan. 29 at Mattamy Athletic Centre.
First Star: Loren Gabel lit the lamp four times on Saturday in Boston’s 5-0 win over Montreal, doubling her previous best and tying a PHF single game goals record last achieved by Taylor Accursi for Buffalo on Dec. 28, 2019. The 25-year-old from Kitchener, Ontario provided the team’s first two tallies on the power play in a first period span of 1:49, then added two even strength goals in the third period just 1:01 apart. She also scored the Pride’s lone goal in Sunday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Force to finish the weekend with five goals in two games. Gabel continues to lead the PHF in scoring during her first season with 24 points in 13 games, powered by six multi-point performances and four multi-goal games. She ranks second overall with 14 goals, but leads the way with a points-per-game average of 1.8 and 82 shots on goal despite missing two games while competing as a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team during November’s Rivalry Series. This marks her third recognition among the PHF’s Three Stars of the Week, but first time earning top honors.
Second Star: Kennedy Marchment took full advantage of some extra competition this past week for Connecticut, amassing seven points in four games including six goals and one assist. She helped the Whale earn a mid-week sweep over Buffalo by scoring an insurance marker in Tuesday’s 3-0 win, followed by her first career hat-trick in Wednesday’s 7-3 victory against the Beauts. Next, the 26-year-old from Marmora, Ontario returned to her home province for a weekend clash with the Toronto Six. She picked up a primary assist on the power play in Saturday’s 7-4 loss, then scored twice including her league-leading fourth game-winner and second shorthanded marker of the season in Sunday’s 4-1 victory. Marchment has extended her point-streak to eight-straight and ranks third in overall scoring with 21 points including 14 goals in 14 games. The reigning PHF MVP is now the franchise leader in all-time points and goals with 54 and 27 respectively in 34 appearances to date.
Third Star: Brittany Howard extended her league-leading point-streak to nine games, producing three goals and two assists as T6 split their weekend series with the Whale. On Saturday, she tied a career-high with her second four-point performance of the season that included scoring the team’s second and sixth goals, plus assists on both of linemate Breanne Wilson-Bennett’s tucks in the 7-4 victory. Then on Sunday, she scored the team’s only goal in a 4-1 defeat. The 27-year-old from St. Thomas, Ontario is one point back of Gabel in the scoring race with 23 points in 14 games, but leads her counterpart with 15 goals. Howard has recorded points in all but one of her games so far in her first PHF campaign and has scored a goal in 10 of her 14 appearances thus far. Her plus-15 rating also ranks first overall among skaters.
2022-23 PHF Three Stars of the Week:
January 17-22:
1. Loren Gabel (BOS) 2. Kennedy Marchment (CTW) 3. Brittany Howard (TOR)
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.
