Metropolitan Riveters captain tied for the team lead in 2022-23 scoring
BOSTON, MA – (March 15, 2023) – The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced that Metropolitan Riveters forward Madison Packer is the PHF Player of the Month for March. The captain recorded six points in four regular season games including three goals and three assists which tied for the league lead and helped her team finish their schedule on a four-game winning-streak.
“I think it’s a testament to the way our team has really come together here at the end of the season,” said Packer. “Everyone is out there making plays and it’s fun to play hockey when the whole team is on board. Every player on our team stepped up huge in the last few weeks of the season and I’m beyond proud of our group for sticking to the process. Our goal at the start of the year was to make the playoffs, obviously, we fell a little short in that category, but we established a strong foundation and incredible team culture between players and coaches to continue building upon next season. I appreciate the nod and recognition and am grateful to our coaches for believing in their athletes and to my teammates for making incredible plays alongside me to make a run there at the end.”
Packer had the most productive three-game stretch of her entire 2022-23 season with a trio of multi-point performances to end the campaign. In those contests she contributed to six of the team’s 12 goals, had four points at even strength and two on the power play, and had a role in all three game-winners including one tally along with both a primary and secondary assist. Her efforts led to a 4-3 win over Montreal on Mar. 5, a 5-2 victory over Buffalo on Mar. 10, and a 3-2 triumph against the Beauts on Mar. 11 all at The Rink at American Dream. Packer was also the source of some important messaging in support of the team’s Pride jerseys worn during their final two games. The Riveters finished the year in fifth place with 30 points and a record of 11-13-0 including a 7-5-0 mark on home ice while riding their longest winning streak since 2017-18.
“Madison and our leadership group grew strong together this season and they were the backbone of rallying a brand new team together on top of establishing a new culture,” said Venla Hovi, Riveters head coach. “All four of the captains complimented each other, and having their consistent example and work ethic visible to the team day in and day out helped us stay focused on our mission as a team.”
The 31-year-old from Detroit, MI finished the season with a team-high 11 goals and tied for first in team scoring with 21 points in 24 games. These figures are her third highest goal and point totals over her eight-year career that began with the inaugural 2015-16 season. Packer has made a record six All-Star appearances and was captain of PHF Team USA at the 2023 showcase. The University of Wisconsin graduate has now played in 131 career PHF regular season games which is fourth most all-time and has recorded 129 career points which ranks second and includes 65 goals and 64 assists.
Two other Riveters collected six points over four games in March to receive consideration for the award including Sarah Bujold with two goals and four assists and Amanda Pelkey with one goal and five assists. Connecticut’s Kennedy Marchment tied Packer with three goals and three assists. On defense, Minttu Tuominen of the Riveters led the way with two goals and one assist, while the Whale’s Emma Keenan had one goal and two assists. In goal, Abbie Ives backstopped the Whale to three wins including one shutout with a leading save percentage of .955.
2022-23 PHF Players of the Month:
March: Madison Packer (Metropolitan Riveters)
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.
