PHF Weekend Primer: Nov 13-14
November 12, 2021 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
The 2021-22 Premier Hockey Federation season continues with its second weekend of action that features a founding four series between the Boston Pride and the host Connecticut Whale.
Saturday November 13, 2021:
2:00 PM ET - Boston Pride vs Connecticut Whale
(ESPN+, Twitch International)
Sunday November 14, 2021:
*3:00 PM ET - Boston Pride vs Connecticut Whale
(ESPN+, ESPN International & TSN Direct)
*Game time changed from original 2:00 PM ET puck drop
The defending champion Pride are already atop the PHF standings following a weekend sweep of the Minnesota Whitecaps to open 2021-22 competition, highlighted by a 1-0 shutout victory on Sunday. The Whale split their first series against the Metropolitan Riveters with some excitement of their own on Sunday, producing a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory that included six-straight goals to erase a 3-0 deficit.
PRIDE START SECOND CENTURY
On Sunday the Pride became the first PHF team to play 100 games, finishing their first regular season century with an incredible 73 victories. Over the course of those 100 games since 2015-16 they've played Connecticut 29 times and have accumulated 24 wins. This includes their last trip to Danbury Ice Arena the weekend of December 28-29 winning by scores of 2-1 and 7-2. The Whale do hold the most recent head-to-head bragging rights emerging victorious by a 4-1 score on January 27, 2021 in Lake Placid powered by a four-point performance by Emma Vlasic and a 34-save effort from Abbie Ives.
A SPECIAL SIX GOALS FOR WHALE
Not only did Sunday's offensive outburst propel Connecticut to victory, it made team history in the process. It was only the sixth occasion where the Whale have ever lit the lamp six times in a single regular season contest and first time since January 29, 2017 in an 8-6 loss to the Rivs. It was also the first time they've ever done it to the tune of six straight tallies scoring them all over an impressive stretch of 10:40.
WOHLFEILER ONE TO WATCH
Alyssa Wohlfeiler earned PHF first star of the week honors for her spectacular play with the Whale scoring three goals and adding one assist over two games. Half of her shots on goal tickled the twine (3/6) giving her a .500 shooting percentage that's tied for second in the PHF. She's equally dangerous on the defensive side of the puck amassing four takeaways which is tied for second overall, and her +4 rating puts her in an early tie for third in the category.
DEMPSEY DELIVERS
Heart and soul Pride captain Jillian Dempsey extended her personal point-streak to six games and is tied for the team lead in scoring with three points through two games all part of a milestone opening weekend. On Saturday she became the first player in PHF history to score 50 career goals, and on Sunday became the first player in PHF history to play in 100 career games. 12 of those career goals over time have come against Connecticut including a pair of two-tally performances on the road. Last weekend nobody in the PHF took or won more draws than Dempsey who lined up for 51 faceoffs in total and won 34 of them for a .667 percentage. She also tied for the team lead in takeaways with four.
BIG NUMBERS FOR BRAND & FRATKIN
McKenna Brand scored in both of Boston's opening weekend games to bring her career goal total to 30. She's just the fourth player in PHF history to achieve the feat following Dempsey, Madison Packer (MET), and Allie Thunstrom (MIN). Brand's milestone goal was Sunday's game-winner and came in her 49th regular season appearance. Meanwhile two-time Defender of the Year Kaleigh Fratkin is fresh off her own milestone marker. The seventh year veteran continues to re-write PHF record books among blue liners notching career point number 70 with an assist on Saturday and has now played in 96 career games.
MUNROE LEADS NEWCOMERS
Whale defender Allie Munroe is tied for third in PHF scoring through two games but leads all newcomers in the category. The Syracuse University graduate who spent the last two years playing in the SDHL recorded a trio of assists in Sunday's comeback win. She's one of five Connecticut rookies to already have their first career points behind them along with fellow defender Hannah Bates, plus forwards Catherine Crawley, Taylor Girard, and Kennedy Marchment.
FIRST OVERALL PICKS FACEOFF
The last two players chosen first overall in the PHF Draft will go head-to-head for the first time this weekend. The Whale's Taylor Girard from Quinnipiac University was the top selection in June a year after the Pride picked Sammy Davis from Boston University. Another top talent on ice this weekend is 2020's second overall pick Kayla Friesen who suited up for the Whale last season before signing with the Pride as a free agent this summer. Even though she's never played a regular season game at Danbury, consider it a homecoming of sorts for her and teammate Katelynn Russ.
CREASE CUTS
Katie Burt earned PHF third star of the week honors for her first career shutout standing between-the-pipes for the Pride for the first time since 2018-19. It was the club's 11th shutout in 100 games. Lovisa Selander's victory on Saturday was the 20th of her PHF career in Boston. Both made 27 saves in their respective appearances. Abbie Ives' goals-against-average of 3.04 is currently the PHF's third best despite Saturday's loss, while Mariah Fujimagari made 22 saves on Sunday to record her first win for the Pod.
EYES ON THE OLYMPICS
12 countries are currently competing in a trio of Olympic qualifying tournaments overseas for the final three spots in the women's 10-team program for Beijing, 2022. A pair of Whale are in the mix this weekend including Austria's Janine Weber and Slovakia's Janka Hlinka. Weber scored twice in a 3-0 shutout over Germany and will face Denmark and Italy over the next two days. Slovakia lost to Sweden and will still contend with France and Korea. Hlinka is competing for Slovakia with Riveters Lenka Curmova and Romana Kosecka. The third group features Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, and Hungary coached by Lisa Haley, PHF Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations.
STATS SNAPSHOT
The Pride lead the PHF with 70 shots on goal with Brand & Taylor Wenczkowski at the top of that list with 11 each followed by teammate Christina Putigna with 10. Wohlfeiler and Marchment lead the Whale with six shots on goal. Wohlfeiler's +4 rating is a Whale best, followed by Girard at +3 who is tied with Pride leader Mallory Souliotis. Pride defender Lauren Kelly is tied for first in the PHF with three shot blocks, with Whale leaders include Munroe and Vlasic with two apiece. Dempsey's four takeaways are tied with Kelly, Souliotis, Wenczkowski, and Wohlfeiler. Friesen was the Pride's next best on draws behind Dempsey winning 25 for a .610 percentage. Whale faceoff leaders are Vlasic with 22 wins and a .579 percentage and Crawley who won 12 for a .600 percentage. A total of 10 special team goals were scored during opening weekend including six power play markers and four shorthanded. Among them were Connecticut's Amanda Conway and Boston's Wenczkowski with the extra attacker, while both Brand and Vlasic sniped for their clubs when short.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from November 12, 2021
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