PHF gets big financial boost

The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) today announced a commitment from the Board of Governors to invest over $25 million in direct payments and benefits to its players over the next three years. The pledge includes more than $7.5 million in salary and benefits for the 2022-23 season. This represents the largest one-time independent investment in the history of professional women’s hockey and will provide more financial opportunities for athletes while directly enhancing the player experience.

“The PHF has been steadfast in its vision to grow the game under a new era that truly provides leading opportunities for athletes in the sport who deserve to be treated as professionals,” said Tyler Tumminia, PHF Commissioner. “This amazing investment by ownership reaffirms the strength of their commitment to being difference-makers who advance the professional game so that our athletes can thrive as role models who continue to inspire the next generation.”

The investment to our professional players, which includes cash, full healthcare benefits provided by their club, and equity in the teams, will support the current athletes and attract new players. At the heart of the investment is a substantial salary cap increase to $750,000 for next year, 150 percent more than the current record figure of $300,000 that is available per team. The PHF will further support its growth and the development opportunities for its athletes through expansion, updating facilities, purchasing new equipment, and increasing ice time in the form of more practices and an expanded 28 game schedule. All players will benefit from 10 percent of the equity of each team, which will be contributed to an investment pool owned by the PHF players, enabling them to share in the league’s financial success. Additionally, players will have control over their own likeness and be able to profit from their image.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors we are proud to play a part in bringing women’s sports to the next level by investing in the PHF,” said John Boynton, Chairman of the Board of Governors. “We see the PHF as a platform to address the inequities that women athletes face. We also believe in the sustainability of our developing business model and embrace our responsibility to build a platform that grows this dynamic league to historic heights.”

Over the last 18 months, the PHF has pivoted from a single entity structure to a joint venture model, with all six member clubs owned and operated by private ownership groups in their respective markets. The PHF also generated landmark broadcast and corporate partnerships, the largest sponsorship revenues in its history, and received record digital viewership and engagement during a shortened season. Prior to the 2021-22 campaign, the league announced a historic name change and refreshed logo to redefine the brand based on the skill and talent of the athletes as opposed to their gender.

This season, the PHF has established unprecedented media exposure through an agreement with ESPN+ who serves as the exclusive home of the PHF in the United States, with international rights for ESPN affiliates including TSN in Canada. The Federation also recently announced a trailblazing multi-year agreement with The Upper Deck Company who will produce their first-ever professional women’s hockey trading cards and a new multi-year agreement with Warrior who becomes the first PHF-wide partner in the equipment category.

The PHF currently has six franchises including the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and Toronto Six. Details for the PHF’s planned expansion of a seventh team in Montreal, Quebec, and the potential for additional clubs to broaden its United States footprint will be announced at a later date.

About the Premier Hockey Federa-

tion

The PHF is the home of professional women’s hockey in North America. Established in 2015 as the National Women’s Hockey League, the NWHL rebranded to become the PHF in 2021 and provide opportunities for elite athletes to earn a living playing the game they love while fueling the continued growth of the sport. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup.

Team Thunstrom to include three Whitecap players in PHF All-Star game

The Premier Hockey Federation has announced the three team rosters for the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase to be played on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Buffalo’s Northtown Center. The rosters were determined in a virtual draft with selections made by All-Star captains Shiann Darkangelo, Jillian Dempsey, and Allie Thunstrom. The results were revealed during game broadcasts on ESPN+.

Darkangelo was awarded first overall pick by random draw and used it to select her Toronto Six teammate Mikyla Grant-Mentis who is the reigning PHF MVP and current top scorer.

“With the first overall pick in the PHF All-Star Showcase draft, I’m proud to announce Mikyla Grant-Mentis,” Darkangelo announced. “I definitely have to go with one of my teammates here, thinking about offense first for our team.”

Thunstrom chose second and also picked one of her PHF teammates in Minnesota Whitecaps forward Jonna Curtis who leads the club in goal scoring this season.

“I’m very honored to announce one of the best players I think in this league,” Thunstrom said while making her pick. “An amazing teammate, a really great friend, and somebody that continuously makes me look good, and that would be Jonna Curtis.”

Dempsey also decided to use her first pick on somebody familiar and opted for Boston Pride defender Kaleigh Fratkin. The pair won the Isobel Cup last season and were the first two players in PHF history to play in 100 career games.

“I’m going to go with Boston defender number 13, Kaleigh Fratkin,” Dempsey declared during the draft. “Big reason being she can do it all. I’ve seen her in all situations five-on-five, threeon-three, moves the puck well, great shot, physical, and I’m also not trying to get into a corner battle with her in the All-Star weekend so I’m going to secure Fratty.”

The draft’s order of selection alternated from top down, to bottom up after every round meaning Dempsey also held the fourth overall pick. She used it to select another member of the Pride in forward McKenna Brand. Thunstrom chose fifth overall and elected to choose

PHF Team Rosters

TEAM DARKANGELO COACHED BY MEGHAN CHAYKA:

Goaltender: Katie Burt (BOS)

Defenders: Lindsay Eastwood (TOR) Kali Flanagan (BOS) Allie Munroe (CTW) Shannon Turner (CTW)

Forwards: Shiann Darkangelo (TOR) Kennedy Ganser (BUF) Mikyla Grant-Mentis (TOR) Meghara McManus (BOS) Madison Packer (MET) Alyssa Wohlfeiler (CTW) Emma Woods (TOR)

TEAM DEMPSEY COACHED BY SAMI JO SMALL:

Goaltender: Elaine Chuli (TOR)

Defenders: Kaleigh Fratkin (BOS) Tori Howran (CTW) Dominique Kremer (BUF) Taylor Woods (TOR) Forwards: Taylor Accursi (BUF) McKenna Brand (BOS) Jillian Dempsey (BOS) Autumn MacDougall (BUF) Kennedy Marchment (CTW) Cassidy Vinkle (BUF) Emma Vlasic (CTW)

TEAM THUNSTROM COACHED BY MEL DAVIDSON:

Goaltender: Abbie Ives (CTW)

Defenders: Amanda Boulier (BOS) Taylor Davison (TOR) Patti Marshall (MIN) Marie-Jo Pelletier (BUF)

Forwards: Jonna Curtis (MIN) Sammy Davis (BOS) Anjelica Diffendal (BUF) Taylor Girard (CTW) Christina Putigna (BOS) Rebecca Russo (MET) Allie Thunstrom (MIN)

her first defender in Boston’s Amanda Boulier. Another Pride blue liner went at number six when Darkangelo called on Kali Flanagan.

Through the draft process the captains were all required to select one goaltender, four defenders, and six forwards to ensure an even balance amongst the teams. The pool of All-Stars eligible for the draft was pre-determined and included the 30 selections made by PHF coaches along with the three skaters identified through the online fan vote. Captains were also responsible for selecting which of the event’s honorary coaches would stand behind their bench, the jerseys their team would wear, as well as which teams would faceoff first in the competition.

The first game of the 2022 PHF AllStar Showcase will feature Team Thunstrom coached by Mel Davidson against Team Darkangelo coached by Meghan Chayka. The second game will be played between the loser of the first game and Team Dempsey coached by Sami Jo Small. Dempsey’s squad will also play in the third game competing against the winner of game number one. Each of the three games will be single-period contests consisting of 10 minutes of 5-on-5 action, followed by five minutes of 3-on-3 play, and a shootout. All goals will count towards final game scores with the top team crowned PHF AllStar champions. The 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase will stream live in the United States exclusively on ESPN+, in Canada to TSN and TSN Direct subscribers, and through the ESPN International distribution network.

About Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)

The PHF is the home of professional women’s hockey in North America. Established in 2015 as the National Women’s Hockey League, the NWHL rebranded to become the PHF in 2021 and maintains the mission to provide strong role models and fuel the continued growth of the sport. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup. For more information visit premierhockeyfederation.com.