PHF Appoints Mel Davidson Director, League and Hockey Operations
Published on May 4, 2022 under Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
BOSTON, MA - The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) today announced that commissioner Reagan Carey has appointed Melody Davidson to the role of Director, League and Hockey Operations. Davidson is a pioneer within the sport and widely regarded as the most important figure in Canadian women's hockey history with a legendary career at Hockey Canada that spanned 26 years with roles in almost every major international triumph for Canada's National Women's Team. Her experience and passion for the game will be applied to a new position for the betterment of the PHF.
"There is not a single person who has done more for the global growth of women's hockey than Mel Davidson, and it is a true privilege to welcome her to a new leadership role at the PHF," said Carey. "She has become legendary for her ability to create winning programs at the Olympic and National Team level, but her dedication to mentoring and coaching others is simply remarkable and unrivaled. Mel reflects the integrity, experience, and success we value in the PHF and her influence will surely raise the bar for our league in all facets. I'm extremely energized for what's to come as we join forces to advance professional women's hockey across North America on behalf of the PHF."
Davidson's expertise will contribute to a department led by Lisa Haley, Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. She will provide general hockey operations guidance and support as it relates to the structure of the PHF regular season, playoffs, and offseason processes, and help develop and navigate the Federation's relationships with key partners across the hockey community in North America and internationally.
"Mel has been a mentor of mine from the very beginning of my professional career and I was fortunate to work with her throughout each of my experiences with the Canadian National Women's Team and at various IIHF high-performance camps," said Haley. "I am so pleased to get another opportunity to work with her at the PHF. I have seen for myself the love she has for the game and the drive she has for building successful programs. Mel will play an integral role as the PHF continues its vision of growing and sustaining professional women's hockey across North America."
Davidson's previous roles with Team Canada included head coach, assistant coach, general manager, and head scout across 36 different events compiling a medal in every single instance. Her highlights include four straight Winter Olympic gold medals in women's hockey beginning as an assistant coach in 2002, then serving as head coach in 2006 and 2010, and general manager in 2014. She's also won five IIHF Women's World Championship gold medals and 10 gold medals at the 4 Nations Cup.
"This is an exciting time for women's hockey with more growth potential and opportunities for athletes than ever before," said Davidson. "I believe the PHF has built a solid foundation and I'm really looking forward to working with Reagan and Lisa to help advance the game forward for elite athletes who want and deserve to continue developing and competing at the highest professional level."
The Oyen, Alberta native earned degrees from Red Deer College and the University of Alberta and has coached women's hockey programs at Connecticut College and Cornell University. She was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2011 for her coaching achievements, and again in 2019 as part of the 2010 Olympic team. Davidson was also inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. She will continue her full-time role with Own the Podium where she's spent the last two years as a high-performance advisor for summer sport. She is also a consultant for the Winnipeg ICE and has been a prominent voice on the IIHF Female Committee since 2010. In January, Davidson served as an honorary coach at the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase in Buffalo.
"I'm super excited that Mel is joining the PHF in a formal role and I can't wait to see all of the great things she will do for the league," said Minnesota Whitecaps forward Allie Thunstrom, who captained the All-Star team coached by Davidson. "Mel brings so much experience to the table and is an incredibly well respected person in the hockey world. We had a blast together in Buffalo where it was a unique opportunity getting to know her and seeing her passion for the game up close."
Team roster building for the PHF's eighth season is underway with unrestricted free agency officially commencing on May 1. The salary cap for 2022-23 will be a record $750,000 per team with a floor of $562,500. The PHF has made great strides over the past 18 months by establishing a joint venture ownership model, generating landmark broadcast and corporate partnerships, drawing record digital viewership, and redefining its brand based on the singular skills of its athletes. In January the PHF's Board of Governors announced a commitment to invest more than $25 million over the next three years to directly enhance the player experience by providing competitive compensation and benefits that will continue to distinguish the PHF as a leader among professional sports leagues.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from May 4, 2022
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