2021-22 PHF Opening Weekend Pulse
November 8, 2021 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
(Brooklyn, N.Y) - A new era for professional women's hockey is officially underway with opening weekend of the 2021-22 Premier Hockey Federation season in the books.
Here's a closer look at the first five results, top performers, and other notable highlights.
Saturday November 6 Scores:
Game 1
Connecticut Whale 1
Metropolitan Riveters 4
Rebecca Russo paced the offense with a goal and two assists as the Riveters scored four unanswered to win their home opener and first game since January 24, a 4-3 triumph over the Whale.
Game 2
Minnesota Whitecaps 4
Boston Pride 6
The Pride began defense of their Isobel Cup title by scoring four unanswered goals to open the rematch of last year's final and held on for victory with two-point performances from Sammy Davis, Jillian Dempsey, and Kayla Friesen.
Game 3
Toronto Six 4
Buffalo Beauts 3
Michela Cava scored the game-winning goal on the power play with one minute remaining in the third period to give the reigning regular season champion Six their first victory.
Sunday November 7 Scores:
Game 4
Minnesota Whitecaps 0
Boston Pride 1
McKenna Brand scored the lone goal and Katie Burt shut the door for Boston who swept the weekend series over Minnesota on home ice in the Pride's 100th regular season PHF game.
Game 5
Connecticut Whale 6
Metropolitan Riveters 5
The Whale scored six straight goals to erase a 3-0 deficit and split the weekend series with the Riveters powered by a three-point performance from Alyssa Wohlfeiler.
PHF 3 Stars of the Week:
First Star: Alyssa Wohlfeiler was dominant for the Whale in their season opening weekend series against the Riveters. On Saturday she scored the first goal of the PHF's new era with a beautiful backhand deke despite a 4-1 loss, then was instrumental in the team's 6-5 comeback win on Sunday. The Whale alternate captain scored a late second period goal, an early third period goal, and helped set up the game-winner to claim first star honors. The Saugus, CA native is playing in her fourth PHF season and third with the Whale. She was previously part of the inaugural 2015-16 season, then joined Boston in 2019-20 before returning to the Whale a year ago. She has four three-point performances over her career including January 27, 2021 against the Pride. The Northeastern University graduate has 32 points in 37 career games.
Second Star: Rebecca Russo is the PHF's scoring leader through opening weekend with a goal and four assists as the Riveters split their first two games against the Whale. The Westport, CT native and Boston University graduate earned first star honors in Saturday's 4-1 victory with her third career three-point performance including a beautiful slap shot strike that served as an insurance marker, and followed it up with a pair of assists in Sunday's 6-5 loss. The last time Russo was this productive over a two-game stretch was November 20, 2016 when she scored two goals followed by a three-assist effort in her next game on December 3, 2016. The 2018 Isobel Cup champion now has 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in 55 career games played over five straight seasons with the Riveters.
Third Star: Katie Burt made the most of her return to the Boston Pride crease posting a 27-save shutout on Sunday in the team's 1-0 victory over Minnesota. This marked Burt's first career PHF shutout in her first start for the team since March 9, 2019 and first victory since February 24, 2019. The Lynn, MA native was the team's first overall pick in the 2017 draft and competed during the 2018-19 season compiling a 10-5-0 record with a 2.14 goals-against-average and .923 save percentage. The Boston College graduate signed with the defending champion Pride as a free agent this offseason following two years with the PWHPA.
PHF Opening Weekend Highlights:
Dempsey first to half and full century club milestones
With every game she plays Jillian Dempsey continues to re-write the PHF record books and this weekend was no exception. On Saturday the Boston Pride captain and 2021 Isobel Cup Playoff MVP became the first player in PHF history to score 50 career goals, and on Sunday became the first to skate in 100 career games. The Winthrop, MA native and Harvard University graduate is an original PHF member who is in her seventh season with the Pride. She won her first Isobel Cup during the inaugural 2015-16 campaign and has a PHF record 107 points.
Accursi alone atop Beauts all-time best
Taylor Accursi now stands alone as the Beauts all-time leading point producer. The Ancaster, ON native scored at 8:32 of the third period in her first game since 2019-20 to bring her career totals to 43 points in 53 games spread out over four seasons since 2017-18. Buffalo's co-captain was already the franchise's leading goal scorer and now has 27 to her credit. Her point total was previously shared with Kourtney Kunichika (2015-18) and Corinne Buie (2016-20) who both had 42 points in 50 and 72 games respectively. Accursi's best season as a Beaut was in 2019-20 when she scored 16 goals and nine assists for 25 points in 24 games.
Grant-Mentis still streaking
Reigning PHF MVP Mikyla Grant-Mentis is picking up right where she left off. The Toronto Six star forward collected three assists in Saturday's opening night victory over Buffalo to extend her league-leading point-streak to seven straight games. Counting 2021 competition, that's a stretch that includes 14 points and production in every appearance since game two of the club's expansion season where she burst onto the scene and earned Newcomer of the Year honors. Her regular season totals a year ago were five goals and four assists for nine points in six games, followed by two points in the Isobel Cup semifinal.
Thunstrom still scoring
Allie Thunstrom holds the PHF single season goals record with 24 set in 2019-20 when she earned Co-MVP honors. Even though she and the Whitecaps were held scoreless on Sunday, the fourth year veteran could challenge her own record with a full 20-game season having started the new year with a pair of goals on Saturday. This made for an impressive streak of three-straight two-goal efforts counting last season's Isobel Cup semifinal and final, also played in Boston.
Welcome back to Boston
It was a bittersweet return to Boston for former Pride Lexie Laing and Taylor Turnquist. The newly acquired Whitecaps pair were members of the 2021 Isobel Cup winning squad and participated in a pre-game ceremony and photo as the championship banner was raised at Warrior Ice Arena. They both made immediate impacts in their first game for Minnesota by recording third period points despite the loss.
Historic PHF win for coach Joslin
In June when the Toronto Six appointed Mark Joslin their new bench boss for the 2021-22 season he became the first Black head coach in PHF history. On Saturday night he officially entered the record books becoming the first Black head coach in PHF history to officially stand behind the bench for a regular season game and to earn a victory. He shared the moment alongside assistant coach Angela James and general manager Krysti Clarke who are also the first members of the Black community to be appointed to their respective PHF roles. Prior to joining T6 Joslin worked with the Toronto Patriots of the OJHL from 2016-20 and was the league's 2018 Executive of the Year.
First career PHF goals
Eight PHF players scored their first career goals on opening weekend. Two of those tallies held as game-winners including Michela Cava (TOR) on Saturday, and 2021 first overall pick Taylor Girard (CTW) on Sunday. Third round picks Missy Segall (BUF) and Leah Marino (TOR) also tallied on Saturday, as did International Draft pick Evelina Raselli (BOS) who becomes the first player from Switzerland to compete and score a goal in the PHF. Fellow newcomer Nora MacLaine (MET) scored in her second career game on Sunday. Returnees Haley Frade (MET) tallied for the first time in her sixth career game, and defender Taylor Marchin (CTW) found the back of the net in career game number 43.
A few more firsts
Emma Vlasic (CTW) won the opening face-off the 2021-22 PHF season. Emily Fluke (CTW) fired the first shot on goal at 0:50 and was turned aside by Sonjia Shelly (MET) who made the season's first save. Alyssa Wohlfeiler (CTW) scored the first goal of the PHF season at 4:49 of the first period. The first power play goal was scored by Emily Janiga (MET) at 10:22 of the first period. The first penalty was a roughing minor assessed to Taylor Marchin (CTW) at 10:15 of the first period. Madison Packer (MET) scored the first empty-net goal at 19:34 of the third period. Autumn MacDougall (BUF) scored the first shorthanded goal of the season at 5:30 of the third period. Kayla Friesen (BOS) scored her first goal in her first game with a new team. In PHF front offices, Boston President Colleen Coyne and GM Danielle Larouco earned their first victories, along with first wins for Connecticut GM Alexis Moed and Riveters GM Anya Packer.
PHF action returns on Saturday November 13 and Sunday November 14 when the Boston Pride visit the Connecticut Whale for a weekend series. Both afternoon games begin at 2:00 p.m. ET and will stream live on ESPN+ in the United States. Viewers in international markets can watch Saturday's game on Twitch, with Sunday's game on ESPN International affiliates including TSN Direct in Canada.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from November 8, 2021
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