U18 Worlds a Pathway to the PHF
June 13, 2022 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
If you look into a crystal ball to forecast future professional women's hockey talent, images of players competing at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship would be plentiful.
And for the first time since January 2020, an age group full of potential has had the deserved opportunity to further their development and showcase their skills on the world stage in Wisconsin.
The importance of this event on hockey's calendar is something that can't be overstated by leaders across the Premier Hockey Federation.
"The lessons and development opportunities provided through participation in the IIHF U18 World Championship goes far beyond the on ice competition," said Reagan Carey, PHF Commissioner. "The awareness of national and international competition is raised, cultural exchanges off ice among the participating host sites, and the travel all serves as a phenomenal experience for these future leaders."
Carey previously served as USA Hockey's Director of Women's Ice Hockey and General Manager of the U.S. National Women's Team. During her tenure from 2010-18 the U18 program enjoyed five gold medal victories including 2011 and four-straight from 2015-18.
"It's a privilege to be part of a process where athletes are putting on a national team jersey and representing their country for the first time," Carey said. "A level of pride and determination is elevated in a way that is unique to this world championship environment. This is a pivotal moment in a player's journey that allows them to experience what it truly means to be part of something bigger than themselves."
A year before Carey was celebrating her first U18 gold, Lisa Haley was also making history north of the border with Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team. The current PHF Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations was behind the bench for her country's first ever gold medal as an assistant coach in 2010 and would also serve as head coach in 2016 where she earned silver.
"It's always special to be the first to do something, and in our case it was capturing the gold medal that the previous two groups had come so close to earning," said Haley. "That was also my first gold medal on the world stage so a lot of pride comes back to me when I think about that experience."
Now in the PHF, both Carey and Haley are proud to be reunited with players from their first U18 classes who are continuing to grow the game and make a difference more than a decade later in their hockey journeys. Carey's 2011 American team featured future PHF talents like Amanda Boulier, Shiann Darkangelo, Amanda Pelkey, and Dana Trivigno, while Haley's 2010 Canadian squad included Shannon Turner.
"Shannon was a big part of us capturing gold in Chicago and it's great to share that memory with her," Haley said. "That was her first major event and truthfully I think it helped launch her career and take her game to the next level. She has been a tremendous PHF ambassador and instrumental to the league's growth across seven full seasons."
Like Turner, Madison Packer is one of the PHF's original members and also has U18 gold on her resume. In fact she was part of the event's first two gold medal teams in 2008 and 2009 representing USA.
"The opportunity to gain international experience and exposure is a huge part of the development process for future Olympians and professional athletes," said Packer. "You gain composure, maturity, and learn to adapt to playing and living in a variety of environments."
Packer amassed 20 points including 11 goals in 10 games over both tournaments and reflects on how much of an honor it was to represent her country's most elite.
"It's the highest honor for an athlete to compete in that uniform for the largest team you can have, and it is always a special feeling," she said. "The compete level is always at its absolute highest any time you are playing in that environment, and you thrive off the energy of being surrounded by the best of the best."
Including Packer's 2008 appearance, the first 10 years of the U18 Worlds each had at least one player who competed in the PHF last season. 37 players from 2021-22 PHF rosters, which represented around 25% of the entire league, had U18 experience. Add another nine players who have announced commitments for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign and the list stretches to 46 players from nine different countries.
"The pathway the U18 tournament provides to the next level is undeniable," said Mel Davidson, PHF Director of League and Hockey Operations. "Every year there are future Olympians in the lineup who are getting their first taste of international competition, and the development model exists for both players and coaches."
Davidson coached Canada's inaugural entry to a silver medal back in 2008 then served as general manager in 2009 and again from 2014-17. Her first team featured players like Tara Watchorn, an Olympian who is now a member of Canada's U18 coaching staff. Amanda Alessi from that roster now serves as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac. Sydney Brodt, who has signed with the Minnesota Whitecaps, is another event alum who is also serving in a coaching role with this year's Team USA.
"It's been nice to see the level of competition raised across all of the countries," Davidson added. "I can remember some very lopsided scores in favor of Canada and the United States against the European teams. The international gap is closing and the 2022 tournament is an example of that."
Back in 2008, Canada outscored opponents 45-4 while the United States carried a 36-2 differential of their own through four games leading up to their gold medal encounter. This season marked the first time in event history where both Canada (2-1 vs Finland) and the United States (3-2 vs Sweden) played in semifinals decided by one goal. Monday night's final marks the 13th time in 14 years they'll go head-to-head for the gold medal with USA holding a 7-5 advantage all-time, plus an eighth gold earned in 2018 against Sweden.
"Playing on the international stage is an incredible feeling filled with so much excitement and emotion," said Kacey Bellamy, who has endured her share of hockey's historic rivalry. "It's an honor to represent your country alongside the best players in the world who are all living out the same dream together. I never took it for granted and made sure to take a moment before every game to take it in."
While Bellamy's extensive international experience as a Team USA player excludes the U18 Worlds, she's currently enjoying the event from a new perspective. In her role as PHF Scout and Player Relations Liaison, she's got her eye on the next generation of PHF talent and likes what she has seen.
"Hockey is evolving more every year and much has to do with the research and resources available for training," she said. "Players are training off ice at a younger age and developing strength and speed earlier. I see a lot more skill being showcased overall, and have been impressed with the shooting strength, quickness, and release at this age.
"There are so many young talented players across the board in all countries that the future of women's hockey is the brightest it's ever been!"
PHF PLAYERS WITH IIHF U18 WORLDS EXPERIENCE:
The list below is sorted by country and includes players who competed in the 2021-22 PHF season along with newcomers committed for the 2022-23 season as denoted by *
Austria (2)
Antonia Matzka (BUF) DIQ Gold 2014, DIA 6TH 2015, DIQ Gold 2016, DIA 5TH 2017*
Janine Weber (CTW) DI 4TH 2009
Canada (15)
Maegan Beres (TOR) Silver 2017
Ashleigh Brykaliuk (MIN) Gold 2012 & 2013
Elaine Chuli (TOR) Gold 2012
Lindsay Eastwood (TOR) Silver 2015
Samantha Fieseler (BUF) Gold 2014
Kaleigh Fratkin (BOS) Silver 2009
Kayla Friesen (BOS) Silver 2016
Jessica Healey (BUF) Gold 2014*
Victoria Howran (CTW) Silver 2016
Sarah Steele (TOR) Gold 2013
Stephanie Sucharda (TOR) Silver 2015
Saroya Tinker (TOR) Silver 2016
Shannon Turner (CTW) Gold 2010
Breanne Wilson-Bennett (TOR) Gold 2014
Taylor Woods (TOR) Gold 2012
Czechia (1)
Tereza Vanisova (BOS) 6TH 2012, 4TH 2013, Bronze 2014
Finland (2)
Emma Nuutinen (BUF) 5TH 2012, 2013, 2014*
Jenna Suokko (BUF) Bronze 2011, 5TH 2012 & 2013
Hungary (1)
Réka Dabasi (MET) DIQ & DI Gold 2012, 6TH 2013, 8TH 2014*
Slovakia (2)
Romana Kosecka (MET) DIA 5TH 2014, DIA Bronze 2015 & 2016, DIA Silver 2017
Lenka Curmova (MET) DIQ Silver 2013, DI 5TH 2013, DIA 5TH 2014, DIA Bronze 2015
Sweden (1)
Ebba Berglund (MET) Bronze 2016*
Switzerland (1)
Evelina Raselli (BOS) 7TH 2008, 8TH 2009, DI Gold 2010
United States (21)
Stephanie Anderson (MIN) Silver 2010
Sydney Baldwin (MIN) Silver 2013 & 2014
Amanda Boulier (BOS) Gold 2011
Sydney Brodt (MIN) Gold 2016*
Katie Burt (BOS) Silver 2014, Gold 2015
Shiann Darkangelo (TOR) Gold 2011
Sammy Davis (BOS) Gold 2015
Jillian Dempsey (BOS) Gold 2009
Lexie Laing (MIN) Silver 2013 & 2014
Mak Langei (MIN) Gold 2016
Caitrin Lonergan (CTW) Silver 2014, Gold 2015*
Meghan Lorence (MIN) Silver 2010
Patti Marshall (MIN) Silver 2014, Gold 2015 & 2016
Sidney Morin (MIN) Silver 2013*
Madison Packer (MET) Gold 2008 & 2009
Amanda Pelkey (MET) Gold 2009, Silver 2010, Gold 2011*
Melissa Samoskevich (CTW) Silver 2014, Gold 2015
Tori Sullivan (BOS) Silver 2014
Dana Trivigno (BUF) Gold 2011, Silver 2012
Taylor Wasylk (BUF) Gold 2009, Silver 2010
Alex Woken (MIN) Gold 2015 & 2016
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from June 13, 2022
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