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PHF Connecticut Whale

Whale Swim over Whitecaps for First Semifinal Win

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


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.

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