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PHF Announces 2022 Award Winners

May 19, 2022 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release

BOSTON, MA - The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) today announced its major award recipients for the 2021-22 season honoring excellence on the ice and in the community. The winners were unveiled throughout a special interactive program streamed live on Twitch, hosted by Erica Ayala and presented by Discover.

Top scorer Kennedy Marchment of the Connecticut Whale was crowned Most Valuable Player after leading the PHF with 33 points in 20 games. Her teammate, Taylor Girard, was voted Newcomer of the Year. A pair of Buffalo Beauts were also recognized including Dominique Kremer who earned Defender of the Year honors, and Elena Orlando who was chosen as this season's Denna Laing Award recipient. Goaltender of the Year was presented to Elaine Chuli of the Toronto Six. All five individual awards were voted on by a selection committee comprised of media and broadcasters who chose between six nominees in every category representing top candidates provided by each PHF team.

"It's definitely a really big honor personally to be nominated as the most valuable player and to receive that award," said Marchment. "I definitely don't take that for granted and I'm very thankful that people voted for me. I do credit a lot of it to my teammates and the coaching staff and organization at the Whale. Connecticut just allowed me to be creative and play the game that I wanted to play, and our team from top down was so phenomenal in the locker room and on the ice. I think that season is something I'll remember forever."

Marchment becomes the first MVP in Whale history and adds the prestigious title to a list of franchise accolades achieved over her first PHF season. The 25-year-old, St. Lawrence University graduate from Courtice, Ontario set Connecticut single season records for goals with 13, assists with 20, and points with 33 as the club captured their first ever regular season title with a team record 15 wins including a stretch of 12-straight. The All-Star forward tallied points in 18 of 20 contests including 10 multi-point performances and carried a league-best point-streak of 10 consecutive games. Her plus-29 rating led the entire league, while her 1.65 points-per-game average ranks sixth among all-time PHF skaters.

Girard also made an immediate impact in her first PHF season after being chosen by Connecticut with the first overall pick in the 2021 draft. The 23-year-old from Macomb, MI went straight from Quinnipiac University to the Whale and finished tied for third in scoring with 24 points over 20 games including 11 goals and 13 assists. She was named a mid-season All-Star and is also the first ever member of the Whale to be recognized for this award.

Chuli set a new PHF single season mark with 16 consecutive victories between-the-pipes for Toronto, ending the 2021-22 campaign with a 16-1-0 record. The 28-year-old from Waterford, Ontario led all netminders with 988:45 minutes played, posted back-to-back shutouts, and registered a goals-against-average of 1.82 and save percentage of .931 that ranked second and third respectively among leading goaltenders. The University of Connecticut graduate has played two PHF seasons with the Six and earned MVP honors at the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase.

Kremer led all PHF defenders with six goals and added five assists for 11 points over 20 games which tied for sixth overall at the position. The Fargo, ND native is a product of Merrimack College's first four years in the NCAA Division I women's hockey circuit, and just wrapped up her sophomore PHF season in Buffalo where she served as an alternate captain and represented the team in the All-Star Showcase on home ice. The 24-year-old becomes the third member of the Beauts to earn the award following Megan Bozek (2016-17) and Blake Bolden (2018-19).

Orlando is one of just six PHF players who has competed in all seven seasons since the league was formed in 2015-16 and is tied for third all-time with 109 career games. The 29-year-old defender from San Jose, CA is a Quinnipiac graduate who joined Buffalo this season after five straight seasons in Connecticut plus the inaugural year in New York. She's the first ever member of the Beauts to receive the award that exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to her sport.

PHF fans also had their say by providing recognition through an online vote to name the Fans' Three Stars of the Season. 2021 MVP Mikyla Grant-Mentis was named first star for the second straight year after finishing second overall in PHF scoring and leading Toronto with 30 points including 13 goals and 17 assists in 19 games. Buffalo's Cassidy Vinkle earned second star honors for efforts during her first PHF season producing seven points in 19 games. Isobel Cup Playoff MVP Taylor Wenczkowski claimed third star honors as she tied for first in regular season scoring for the back-to-back champion Boston Pride with 15 points in 20 games.

The PHF Foundation Awards were also presented to six recipients chosen by all six teams, recognizing those who actively apply the core values of hockey to their community and help grow and improve hockey culture. This season's Foundation Awards were sponsored by Principal Financial Group who will be donating $10,000 directly to a charity of choice on behalf of all six winners.

Boston's Jenna Rheault, who supports the organization 'Kid Adventures', recognizes the larger opportunity to connect with youth programs and schools to spread the idea of dreaming big, believing in yourself, and unapologetically chasing your dreams. Buffalo's Grace Klienbach, who earns the award for a second straight season, works tirelessly to develop and train youth hockey players through her and her husband's 14/94 Hockey Program. She supports the 'Kids 4 Kids' campaign started by her colleague Brianne Krysiak, in memory of her newborn son Gordon Krysiak, with proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. Connecticut captain Shannon Turner is a leader on and off the ice, and this season sacrificed her body to block shots and raise money for Active Minds to help end the stigma around mental health. Metropolitan Riveters captain Madison Packer is also a committed mental health advocate who has been steadfast in her support of the Kyle Pavone Foundation, named in memory of her childhood friend who passed away in 2018 to an accidental overdose. Minnesota Whitecaps forward Allie Thunstrom shows her dedication to growing the game through her volunteer work with DinoMights which is an organization that uses hockey as an incentive to provide tutoring, mentorship, and community service in diverse neighborhoods across the Twin Cities. Toronto's Saroya Tinker is also a repeat Foundation Award recipient who consistently demonstrates a passion for making the sport more inclusive for the BIPOC community and young girls in particular. She continues to change the face of hockey as a role model with her own 'Saroya Strong' mentorship program and raising funds to support Black Girl Hockey Club.

Visit twitch.tv/thePHF to watch a full replay of the 2022 PHF Awards Show including interviews and reactions from all award honorees.

2022 PHF AWARDS SUMMARY:

Most Valuable Player

Winner: Kennedy Marchment (Connecticut Whale)

Runner-up: Taylor Wenczkowski (Boston Pride)

Finalist: Allie Thunstrom (Minnesota Whitecaps)

Defender of the Year

Winner: Dominique Kremer (Buffalo Beauts)

Runner-up: Lindsay Eastwood (Toronto Six)

Finalist: Amanda Boulier (Boston Pride)

Goaltender of the Year

Winner: Elaine Chuli (Toronto Six)

Runner-up: Katie Burt (Boston Pride)

Finalist: Carly Jackson (Buffalo Beauts)

Newcomer of the Year

Winner: Taylor Girard (Connecticut Whale)

Runner-up: Kali Flanagan (Boston Pride)

Finalist: Anjelica Diffendal (Buffalo Beauts)

Denna Laing Award

Winner: Elena Orlando (Buffalo Beauts)

Runner-up: Mariah Fujimagari (Connecticut Whale)

Finalist: Jonna Curtis (Minnesota Whitecaps)

Foundation Awards

Jenna Rheault (Boston Pride)

Grace Klienbach (Buffalo Beauts)*

Shannon Turner (Connecticut Whale)

Madison Packer (Metropolitan Riveters)

Allie Thunstrom (Minnesota Whitecaps)^

Saroya Tinker (Toronto Six)*

*2021 recipient / ^2020 recipient

Fans' Three Stars of the Season

1. Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Toronto Six)

2. Cassidy Vinkle (Buffalo Beauts)

3. Taylor Wenczkowski (Boston Pride)

Premier Hockey Federation Stories from May 19, 2022

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