Boston Pride forward leads PHF in all offensive categories
BOSTON, MA – (March 2, 2023) – The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced that Boston forward Loren Gabel is the PHF Player of the Month for February. The league’s top scorer recorded 11 points in five games including five goals and six assists to help the Pride clinch a top-two spot in the 2023 Isobel Cup Playoffs.
“It is an honor to be named player of the month, but this recognition isn’t for an individual achievement,” said Gabel. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, coaches, and support staff who help me everyday both on and off the ice. As a team, our focus is now on the next few weeks left of the season and working hard to cap off a great season and bring back the Isobel Cup to Boston.”
Gabel continued her charge up the scoring charts throughout the month by averaging more than two points-per-game and extending her point-streak to seven-straight contests. She scored a goal in four of her five games with three of them counting as the game’s first goal. She also recorded three multi-point performances immediately following the All-Star showcase where she earned MVP honors for PHF Team Canada. Gabel had a goal and two assists on Feb. 4 in a 5-0 win over the Riveters, scored twice including the game-winner plus two assists in a 5-2 victory over Connecticut on Feb. 5, and tallied a goal and a helper on Feb. 18 in a 4-1 win against Montreal. As a team, Boston won four of their five games in February to earn 12 of a possible 15 points and now hold an overall record of 16-3-1 and 46 points. They sit just two points behind Toronto for first place with four games remaining.
“Loren has been amazing for the Pride this whole season, and February was no exception with five goals and six assists in five games,” said Paul Mara, Pride head coach. “Every time she steps on the ice, she is a threat to score. She works extremely hard to improve everyday, and you can clearly see the benefits of the hours of practice she puts in week in and week out, and it has helped our team be where we are today.”
The 25-year-old from Kitchener, Ontario leads the league with 19 goals, 16 assists, and 35 points in 18 games along with 113 shots on goal in her first PHF season. Her 1.94 points-per-game average ranks first among all-time skaters ahead of two-time PHF MVP Briana Decker who established a mark of 1.82 in 33 games over the league’s first two seasons. Over her final four games, the two-time NCAA champion and 2019 Patty Kazmaier Award winner from Clarkson University will continue chasing league records established by her Pride teammates when they were named co-MVP’s during the 2019-20 campaign. Allie Thunstrom’s 24 goals in 24 games and Jillian Dempsey’s 40 points in 24 games are both within reach for Gabel, despite missing two November appearances while competing in the Rivalry Series with Canada’s National Women’s Team.
A pair of Toronto Six forwards also recorded 11 points to receive consideration for the February award. Captain Shiann Darkangelo scored seven goals and four assists in eight games, while Michela Cava had four goals and seven assists in her eight games. T6 defender Lindsay Eastwood led all blue liners with six assists in eight games. In goal, Boston’s Corinne Schroeder won all four of her starts including one shutout victory while posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .977.
2022-23 PHF Players of the Month:
February: Loren Gabel (Boston Pride)
January: Kennedy Marchment (Connecticut Whale)
December: Brittany Howard (Toronto Six)
November: Corinne Schroeder (Boston Pride)
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.
