The first Premier Hockey Federation weekend of 2023 continued Saturday with a trio of games that featured five teams taking to the ice for the first time since the turn of the calendar.
Toronto Six 3, Montreal Force 2 SO
History was made in Rimouski, Quebec where the first PHF all-Canadian matchup was played, and the league’s new northern rivals didn’t disappoint. Alexandra Labelle scored for the second straight game to put Montreal on the board in the first period. Toronto responded with two goals in 32 seconds from Kati Tabin and Michela Cava early in the middle frame, followed by a Brooke Stacey equalizer. A scoreless third period and overtime made way for a shootout where top scorer Brittany Howard tallied twice past Marie-Soleil Deschenes. Ann-Sophie Bettez made good on her attempt, but Elaine Chuli stood tall and turned aside the other three Force tries to secure two points for T6 in a fourth straight win.
Minnesota Whitecaps 4, Buffalo Beauts 1
The third place Whitecaps added three points to the standings with their second road win of the season. Things initially looked good for the host Beauts who got the start they wanted with a Mikyla Grant-Mentis goal early in the first period, but the lead was short lived as Sidney Morin tied the score just 31 seconds later. Minnesota top scorer Natalie Snodgrass kept up her point-per-game pace with her seventh goal of the season in the second period, followed by final frame tallies from captain Sydney Brodt and an empty-netter by Denisa Krizova. Jenna Brenneman picked up her first win of the season with 12 saves, while Lovisa Berndtsson stopped 29 in defeat.
Boston Pride 4, Metropolitan Riveters 1
Boston made it a perfect six-point weekend with their second regulation win in as many days to edge ahead of Toronto for first place in the overall standings. The Pride built a 4-0 lead with first period goals by Kali Flanagan and Jillian Dempsey who scored for the second straight game. Elizabeth Giguere scored in the second period to extend her goal-streak to three games, and Kayla Friesen found the back of the net for the first time this season. The Riveters lone goal was a third period power play marker by Kennedy Ganser. Corinne Schroeder earned her ninth win of the season with 32 saves, while Katie Burt stopped 25 and took the loss against her former team.
Cover photo by Arianne Bergeron
