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PHF Premier Hockey Federation

Isobel Cup Final Features Boston and Connecticut

March 28, 2022 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release


(Tampa Bay, FL) - The 2021-22 Premier Hockey Federation season wraps up Monday night with the prestigious Isobel Cup on the line for the top ranked Connecticut Whale and the third place Boston Pride. The Whale advance to the franchise's first championship final following a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Whitecaps, while the Pride have an opportunity to defend their title after a 5-1 victory against the Toronto Six in Sunday's semifinals.

Tonight's final airs at 9:00 p.m. ET live across the United States on ESPN2 and in Canada on TSN2. A special pre-game show begins at 8:30 p.m. ET streaming on ESPN+ and for viewers on TSN2. The championship on ESPN2 will be the network's first linear broadcast of professional women's hockey.

Here's a look back at Sunday's results:

Whale swim through Whitecaps for first semifinal win

For the first time in PHF history the Connecticut Whale are one win away from hoisting the Isobel Cup following a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Whitecaps in the first of two playoff semifinals on Sunday at AdventHealth Center Ice near Tampa Bay, Florida.

The Whale continue what's already been an historical season for the Founding Four franchise, entering postseason play as the number one seed following their first regular season title. They avenged the 7-0 loss suffered to the Whitecaps in last year's semifinals and halted them from advancing to a fourth straight championship final.

All six goals were scored in the second period where the teams combined for 24 shots and traded opportunities at both ends of the ice. PHF top scorer Kennedy Marchment tallied the first one at 1:23, walking out from the corner and ripping a wrist shot to kickstart a three point performance.

"I think today's game is obviously a good one for us coming out on top," Marchment said. "We had a lot of good responses in that game. We had a lot of leads and they came at us but I don't think we got too high or too low and always had a good response to them with pressure and even goals right after their goals. I think that's really big for our team and shows a lot of character."

Allie Thunstrom, the PHF's top regular season goal scorer evened the game at 5:06 with her 20th of the year, burying a cross-ice feed from Patti Marshall who finished with two assists. Veteran Janine Weber helped the Whale respond when she deflected an Allie Munroe point shot at 6:55. The Whitecaps power play clicked at 15:29 when Ashleigh Brykaliuk buried one from the side of the net after a favorable back boards bank.

"They were prepared," said Whale head coach Colton Orr. "They were a team with speed and put pressure on us. We kind of got away from our game instead of having to adjust and we kind of got trapped into playing their game a little bit. That just shows the resiliency of our group that when we do get those opportunities we bear down and find ways to score."

The score stayed tied 2-2 for just 14 seconds when Alyssa Wohlfeiler finished a beautiful tic-tac-toe play set up from Marchment and Whale captain Shannon Turner at 15:43. Marchment and Turner also assisted on Tori Howran's insurance marker at 17:10.

"We're very confident with a lead," Orr said. "We want to make sure that when we have these leads that we find ways to finish them. That's something we've prided ourselves on, making sure we don't sit back. We still want to play our game and still attack them. I think we did a really good job of continuing to make them go 200 feet in that third period and make it a real challenge."

The Whitecaps had two power play opportunities in the third period but ultimately couldn't generate any scoring to close the gap after 40. Abbie Ives made 22 saves in the win, opposite Amanda Leveille who stopped 31 shots two days after a brilliant effort in her return to the Whitecaps lineup.

"It didn't work out in our favor," said Whitecaps co-head coach Ronda Engelhardt. "We're down, we're not feeling great, but I told the team we're proud of how they competed and where we came from the start, through the middle, and how we finished. We were at a point that we were good enough to win but it just didn't go our way today. Kudos to Connecticut, they played phenomenal. They've all bought in to their systems and their mentality for this season. They've been pretty consistent and we always knew they were a tough team to play against."

The Whale had the Whitecaps number throughout the 2021-22 campaign, winning all four regular season matchups including the team's first ever victories in Minnesota. The Whitecaps season ends with their lowest win total and winning percentage in four years since joining the league and capturing the 2019 crown.

"It's been such an honor to where the Whitecaps jersey," Thunstrom said. "From where we started a decade and a half ago to now, and being here in Tampa and seeing the excitement. It's so special to see how far the entire league has come. All six teams won some pretty huge games this year and it really comes down to who has it that night and gets the bounces and tonight unfortunately it wasn't us. It stings a lot because I think we came into it finally hitting our stride and feeling confident as a group. Unfortunately that's how it ends for us."

It's unchartered waters for many of the Whale who entered the action with a combined 45 games and 14 points of PHF playoff experience, and just one title held by Rebecca Morse who won in 2018 as a member of the Metropolitan Riveters but sat out of Sunday's affair.

"It's an exciting feeling," Orr said. "This is a special group here. It's been a fun season the way they've developed throughout the year, the way they've come together as a group, the way they've played for each other has just been so fun to watch and be a part of. I'm so proud of what they've accomplished so far but we're not done yet and we know we have some unfinished business. We're enjoying it now but the same thing we do every weekend is turn the page and get ready for tomorrow."

Weber, who signed the first ever PHF (NWHL) contract back in 2015, recognizes the significance of their opportunity in Monday's final and approaching it with a business first mentality.

"We really want more," she said. "Today is not the end of it. We're just going to prepare and go again tomorrow. Obviously we're here for a reason. We're in Florida but this could be anywhere and we'd have the same goal and approach it the same way. When it comes down to it, it's the final and we're going to play our game again. Play Whale hockey."

The battle for the Isobel Cup takes place live at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and TSN2.

Pride stop Six again in semifinals

For the second straight season the Boston Pride have eliminated the higher ranked Toronto Six in the Isobel Cup semifinals, this time by a 5-1 score on Sunday afternoon at AdventHealth Center Ice near Tampa Bay, Florida.

Last year's result was a 6-2 decision in Boston over the expansion unit that paved the way for the franchise's second Isobel Cup title. Toronto finished their first full PHF season in second place with a 2021-22 campaign that included 16 wins and a perfect record on home ice.

Three goals in a span of 2:14 over the last half of the first period did all the offensive damage the defending champions needed to punch their ticket to Monday's final where they'll face the Connecticut Whale.

"I think we carried over the emotion from our game against Buffalo and brought that to Toronto," said Pride head coach Paul Mara. "I think when we play with heart and passion and focus, there's not a better team in this league. We're not done. We're here for one thing and that's to win an Isobel Cup and we're excited for that challenge tomorrow night."

Christina Putigna opened the scoring with her second goal and third point in two games on the power play at 15:39, taking advantage of a puck deflected her way. Kali Flanagan scored a sensational goal on an end-to-end rush for her second snipe of the postseason at 16:07. She picked up her second point of the game at 17:53 when Kayla Friesen capitalized on a rebound for the commanding 3-0 lead.

"I think our team always breeds our own energy out there," Mara said. "Scoring three goals right off the bat there was a big push for us. Nerves always kick in. It's an elimination game, people are nervous. The first 10 minutes I don't think is the way we play all the time but the final 10 minutes of that first period was great."

Putigna's goal boosted an offense that was deadly for the second straight game, having scored six times against Buffalo to open Friday's preliminary round.

"I love getting the first goal," she said. "It ignited the bench which was awesome. I think it lit a fire under our butts and then we just rolled from there. It's nice that we're scoring a lot of goals too, we haven't done that this season so it's nice to get those points up on the board."

The Six cut the deficit to 3-1 heading into the intermission on a power play goal by Breanne Wilson-Bennett in the final minute. Evelina Raselli found the back of the net for just her second career PHF goal in the second period, then Taylor Wenczkowski got her second goal of the playoffs midway through the third period. It was another power play marker for Boston who has now converted on five of their eight opportunities after ranking last in the PHF throughout the year.

"It's awesome to be able to help the team win," said Wenczkowski. "Scoring goals is fun but the little things, too, go a long way. I think just the confidence is the biggest piece that we needed all season and now we're rolling and feeling pretty good about it."

Katie Burt stopped 18 of 19 shots faced for her second playoff win and even contributed an assist on Flanagan's goal which marked the first helper by a Pride goaltender since Season 1. Toronto's Elaine Chuli, who set a PHF record with 16 consecutive wins in a season following a pair of overtime triumphs against Boston two weeks earlier, turned aside 23 shots in defeat.

"Hockey is a game of mistakes and whoever can make fewer will win the game," said Six captain Shiann Darkangelo. "They put in that many goals that quick but I don't think we ever gave up hope that we could do the exact same thing.

"I think a lot still has to soak in but I'm proud of this group," she said. "Our coaches, everybody in the locker room, even higher up, everyone has put their heart and soul into this team so we can't ask for anything else when that happens. Obviously it's not the outcome we wanted but I love everyone in the locker room and on our staff and I'm grateful for that."

Darkangelo, who won an Isobel Cup in 2017 with Buffalo, had accounted for six of the team's 17 career playoff games heading into Sunday. A total of 11 players were part of last season's loss to Boston, whereas the Pride entered the 2022 postseason with 69 games of playoff experience and 16 championships.

"I think the lack of experience playing in big games likes this affected us and Boston took advantage of it and got the breaks when they needed it and that was the difference," said Six head coach Mark Joslin. "If I'm fortunate to be a part of this group again next year I'm excited about who is coming back. Obviously we've got some unfinished business and we're all pretty sad but I'm sure we'll be pretty hungry to get going and get what we want."

The 16 titles on the Pride are owned by 14 members from last season's group including captain Jillian Dempsey who was also part of the team's inaugural season win.

"One huge thing for our team is depth," Mara said. "We can put any player out there, any line out there, D combination at any time of the game, any circumstance and we're confident they'll get the job done. We're really confident that our depth will take us through and get us the win tomorrow."

Boston beat Connecticut just once this season by a 4-3 score in overtime in their first encounter on November 13. The Whale won the rematch 3-1 then swept their second series February 5-6 by scores of 3-2 and 6-1. This will be their third playoff meeting all-time with the Pride winning 8-2 in the 2017 semifinal and 5-1 in the 2020 semis.

"Definitely want to win," Wenczkowski said. "It will be a good battle tomorrow. We're pretty confident and trust each other on and off the ice so I think that's the biggest thing that's going to help our success."

The Isobel Cup Championship Final takes place Monday night at 9:00 p.m. ET live on ESPN2 and TSN2. Fans can catch a special pre-game show beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and TSN2.

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