Captains Selected for 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase
December 17, 2021 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
(Brooklyn, N.Y.) - The Premier Hockey Federation today announced the three team captains for the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase are Shiann Darkangelo of the Toronto Six, Jillian Dempsey of the Boston Pride, and Allie Thunstrom of the Minnesota Whitecaps. All three forwards were selected by their peers to wear the 'C' and compete among the very best from across the PHF on Saturday January 29 in Toronto.
"Congratulations to three extraordinary athletes for the deserved honor of representing the PHF on this prestigious stage," said PHF Commissioner Tyler Tumminia. "Allie, Jillian, and Shiann each exemplify skill and passion, with character and leadership qualities that have earned the respect of their teammates and recognition from their opponents to be chosen All-Star captains."
Darkangelo is a 28-year-old from Royal Oak, MI competing in her fourth PHF season. The Quinnipiac University graduate skated in the first two All-Star Games in league history while playing for the Connecticut Whale in 2016 and the Buffalo Beauts who would go on to win the 2017 Isobel Cup. Darkangelo joined the expansion Toronto Six after two seasons in the CWHL and one with the PWHPA and became the first captain in franchise history leading her squad to a regular season title in Lake Placid and a first place start to the 2021-22 campaign.
"I'm honored to be selected as one of the captains for the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase," Darkangelo said. "I'm looking forward to a fun weekend here in Toronto in front of the home fans."
Dempsey is an original member of the Pride and one of only five current PHF members who has competed in all seven seasons. She holds several all-time records as the first to surpass 50 goals as well as eclipsing the century mark for points produced and games played. The 30-year-old from Winthrop, MA is a graduate of Harvard University and a two-time Isobel Cup champion winning in 2016 and 2021. This is her fifth season as Pride captain and will be her fourth All-Star appearance following events in 2018, 2019, and 2020 when she was captain for Team Dempsey in a 5-2 victory over Team Packer.
"I am both humbled and honored to be named a captain of an All-Star team, and it is truly special knowing that the honor was given by the players in the league," Dempsey said. "I look forward to competing in Toronto!"
Thunstrom has been a fixture for her home state Whitecaps since the organization joined the PHF in 2018-19. The 33-year-old from Maplewood, MN won the Isobel Cup her first season and is the franchise leader in all-time goals and games having never missed a match. The Boston College graduate also holds the PHF single season goals record with 24 scored in 24 games during the 2019-20 campaign when she shared MVP honors with Dempsey. Thunstrom played in the 2019 and 2020 All-Star Games with Dempsey and the pair will represent the PHF together at the 2022 ECHL All-Star Classic on January 17.
"I've said it a million times but I am just so honored and blessed to be able to play hockey professionally and be part of this Federation," Thunstrom said. "When I started playing this wasn't even a thought, much less a reality and to be named an All-Star captain really is the icing on the cake. Thank you so much to everyone who has been involved in making this happen, especially my teammates, all players across the Federation, the Whitecaps organization and the PHF. It truly is an honor and I couldn't be more excited!"
The selection of All-Star captains was made by PHF players from across all six member teams in two phases facilitated by the PHF office in consultation with Players' Association representatives. Each team submitted two nominees to form a final ballot of 12 candidates for consideration. All six teams then provided their top three selections for All-Star captains based on the list of finalists and were not permitted to vote for their own nominees. The three All-Star captains are those who received the most votes in the selection process.
Three All-Star captains is part of the new format introduced for this season's event that will feature three All-Star teams playing a series of three single-period games (two per team). Each mini game will consist of 10 minutes of 5-on-5 action followed by five minutes of 3-on-3 play and a shootout. Goals from all three phases will count towards final game scores to determine winners and ultimately crown the PHF All-Star champions. PHF coaches from all six teams will now identify 30 additional All-Star participants and will be followed by a fan vote to choose three final All-Star skaters and one extra goaltender. A virtual draft will be conducted in January for Darkangelo, Dempsey, and Thunstrom to select their rosters.
The 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase will stream live in the United States exclusively on ESPN+, in Canada to TSN and TSN Direct subscribers, and through the ESPN International distribution network.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from December 17, 2021
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