The 2022–23 PHF season was the eighth and final ice hockey season of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) – known as the National Women's Hockey League during its first six seasons (2015–2021).

League business

The PHF decided not to hold a draft this year.

Montreal expansion

The long-expected Montreal Force expansion franchise was announced in July and the team name, colors and logo were revealed in August. The team will not have an official home arena during the 2022–23 season but will instead play home games across the province of Quebec, with expected stops in Montreal,

Gatineau Gatineau ( ; ) is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is located on the northern bank of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario. Gatineau is the largest city in the Outaouais administrative region and is part of Canada's N ...

, Quebec City, Rimouski, Rivière-du-Loup, Saint-Jérôme, and Sept-Îles, Quebec, among others.

International players

A record twenty international players signed as roster players in the PHF for the 2022–23 season. Of the international players, six are from Finland, five are from Czechia, four are from Sweden, two are from Austria, two are from Hungary, and one is from Switzerland. Signed as a practice player rather than to the main roster,

Iveta Klimášová Iveta Klimášová (born 14 January 1998) is a Slovak ice hockey player, playing in the Finnish Naisten Liiga (NSML) with HPK Kiekkonaiset. She was a member of the Slovak national ice hockey team during the 2010s. Klimášová and national tea ...

of the

Buffalo Beauts The Buffalo Beauts are a professional ice hockey team based in Amherst, New York, United States. The team was established in 2015 as one of the four founding franchises of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), originally named the National Women' ...

is from Slovakia. An additional four players are North American-born but hold

multiple citizenship Multiple/dual citizenship (or multiple/dual nationality) is a legal status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a national or citizen of more than one country under the laws of those countries. Conceptually, citizenship is focused on t ...

and have represented nations outside of North America in international competition (listed with nations of citizenship): Taylor Baker (Canada/Hungary). Janka Hlinka (Slovakia/United States),

Leah Lum Leah Lum (born May 12, 1996), also known by the Chinese name Lin Qiqi (), is a Canadian ice hockey forward and member of the Chinese national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) with Montreal. ...

(Canada/China), and Lenka Serdar (Czechia/United States). Player nationalities * Austria:

Antonia Matzka Antonia may refer to: People * Antonia (name), including a list of people with the name * Antonia gens, a Roman family, any woman of the gens was named ''Antonia'' * Antônia (footballer) * Antônia Melo Entertainment * '' Antonia's Line'', ori ...

Janine Weber Janine Weber (born 19 June 1991) is an Austrian professional ice hockey player and member of the Austrian national team, currently playing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Connecticut Whale. She previously played with the Boston ...

* China: Leah Lum * Czechia: Denisa Křížová, Dominika Lásková, Kateřina Mrázová, Lenka Serdar, Aneta Tejralová, Tereza Vanišová * Finland: Anna Kilponen, Eveliina Mäkinen,

Emma Nuutinen Emma Nuutinen (born 7 December 1996) is a Finnish ice hockey player, playing in the Naisten Liiga (NSML) with Kiekko-Espoo. As a member of the Finnish women's national ice hockey team, she participated in both the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympi ...

Meeri Räisänen Meeri Räisänen (born 2 December 1989) is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Connecticut Whale. As a member of the Finnish natio ...

Jenna Suokko Jenna Suokko (born 14 June 1995) is a Finnish ice hockey player, currently playing with the Buffalo Beauts of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). Playing career At age 15, Suokko made her debut in the Naisten SM-sarja (renamed Naisten Liiga ...

, Minttu Tuominen * Hungary: Taylor Baker, Réka Dabasi, Fanni Garát-Gasparics * Slovakia: Janka Hlinka, Iveta Klimášová * Sweden:

Lovisa Berndtsson Lovisa Berndtsson (born 9 December 1988) is a Swedish ice hockey goaltender, most recently playing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Buffalo Beauts. As a member of the Swedish national team, she participated in the 2017 IIHF Women ...

, Ebba Berglund,

Ronja Mogren RONJA (Reasonable Optical Near Joint Access) is a free-space optical communication system originating in the Czech Republic, developed by Karel Kulhavý of Twibright Labs and released in 2001. It transmits data wirelessly using beams of light ...

, Lovisa Selander * Switzerland:

Sarah Forster Sarah Forster (born 19 May 1993) is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Switzerland women's national ice hockey team, Swiss national team, playing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Metropolitan Riveters. A three-time Olympi ...

Front office changes

On May 17, 2022, the Minnesota Whitecaps announced that

Jack Brodt Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, ...

, who co-founded the team in 2004, would take a position with NLTT Hockey, the company who bought the Whitecaps in the 2021–22 season. On August 21, 2022, Chi-Yin Tse was named as the new general manager for the Whitecaps.

Coaching changes

On May 9, 2022, Venla Hovi succeeded Ivo Mocek as head coach of the Metropolitan Riveters. Mocek remains with the team as associate head coach. On May 17, 2022, Ronda Engelhardt took over as sole head coach of the Whitecaps.

Regular season

Standings

Schedule

The 2022–23 season schedule was published on September 19, 2022. ''All times in Eastern Standard Time ( UTC−05:00); exception of November 5–6, 2022, which are in Eastern Daylight Time ( UTC−04:00).''

News and notes

*December 10, 2022: Boston Pride goaltender

Corinne Schroeder Corinne Schroeder (born August 17, 1999) is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender, currently playing in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) with PWHL New York. Playing career In the 2013–14 season, Schroeder played with the Pembina Vall ...

set a new PHF single season record for shutouts, recording her fourth shutout in just seven starts for the first place Pride. *December 11, 2022: Boston Pride team captain

Jillian Dempsey Jillian T. Dempsey (born January 19, 1991) is an American ice hockey player who currently captains the Boston Pride in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She currently holds the all-time PHF records for games played, goals, assists, and points ...

tied a PHF record with six points on Sunday including her first career hat-trick to lead Boston to a 7–5 win versus Buffalo.

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in regular season points at the conclusion of the season on March 12, 2023. The following skaters were the top point scorers of teams not represented in the scoring leader table at the conclusion of the season, noted with their overall league scoring rank:

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in regular season save percentage at the conclusion of the season on March 12, 2023, while playing at least one-third of games.

Awards and honors

* Most Valuable Player:

Loren Gabel Loren Gabel (born July 24, 1997) is a Canadian women's ice hockey player, formerly of the Clarkson Golden Knights. She made her debut for the Canada women's national ice hockey team at the 2018 4 Nations Cup. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2 ...

(BOS) * Outstanding Player of the Year: Loren Gabel (BOS) * Defender of the Year:

Kali Flanagan Kali Dora Flanagan (born September 19, 1995) is an American ice hockey player for the American national team and the Boston Pride of the PHF. She also serves as an assistant coach for the Northern Cyclones, the first female coach in USPHL histo ...

(BOS) * Goaltender of the Year:

(BOS) * Newcomer of the Year: Loren Gabel (BOS) * Rookie of the Year: Corinne Schroeder (BOS) * Denna Laing Award: Lauren Kelly (BOS) PHF Foundation Award Winners * Boston: Sammy Davis * Buffalo: Cassidy MacPherson * Connecticut: Shannon Turner * Metropolitan:

Reagan Rust Reagan Rust (born February 25, 1997) is an American ice hockey player, playing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) the Metropolitan Riveters. She was the first NCAA Division I women's ice hockey player to have come from the state of Mississ ...

* Minnesota: Denisa Křížová * Montreal: Laura Jardin * Toronto:

Shiann Darkangelo Shiann Darkangelo (born November 28, 1993) is an American ice hockey player who currently plays with the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She has played at the international level with Team USA and won gold at the 2016 IIHF Wo ...

Player of the Month * November 2022: Corinne Schroeder (BOS) * December 2022: Brittany Howard (TOR) * January 2023: Kennedy Marchment (CTW) * February 2023: Loren Gabel (BOS) * March 2023:

Madison Packer Madison Packer (born June 25, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey forward, currently serving as captain of the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation. One of the longest tenured players in PHF history, she is the league' ...

(MET) Three Stars of the Week * November 5–6: 1. Corinne Schroeder (BOS), 2. Brittany Howard (TOR), 3. Élizabeth Giguère (BOS) * November 18–20: 1. Sarah Bujold (MET), 2. Corinne Schroeder (BOS), 3.

(TOR) * November 26–27: 1.

Jade Downie-Landry Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornament (art), ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amp ...

(MON), 2.

Ann-Sophie Bettez Ann-Sophie Bettez (born October 14, 1987) is a Canadian ice hockey forward currently signed with the Montreal Force of the Premier Hockey Federation. Playing career CIS She was CIS rookie of the year in 2008 and voted league MVP in her second ...

(MON), 3. Fanni Garát-Gasparics (MET) * December 3–4: 1. Kennedy Marchment (CTW), 2. Minttu Tuominen (MET), 3.

Sydney Brodt Sydney Jane Brodt (born May 3, 1998) is an American ice hockey player and member of the United States women's national ice hockey team, U.S. national ice hockey team, currently signed with the Minnesota Whitecaps in the Premier Hockey Federation ...

(MIN) * December 9–11: 1.

(BOS), 2. Loren Gabel (BOS), 3. Brittany Howard (TOR) * December 16–18: 1. Natalie Snodgrass (MIN), 2. Shiann Darkangelo (TOR), 3. Taylor Girard (CTW) * January 6–8: 1. Taylor Girard (CTW), 2. Loren Gabel (BOS), 3. Elaine Chuli (TOR) * January 14–15: 1.

Allie Thunstrom Allison Thunstrom (born April 20, 1988) is an American ice hockey forward for the Boston Pride in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She currently holds the PHF record for goals scored in a single season. She has also played for the U ...

(BOS), 2. Ann-Sophie Bettez (MON), 3. Jonna Albers (MIN) * January 17–22: 1. Loren Gabel (BOS), 2. Kennedy Marchment (CTW), 3. Brittany Howard (TOR) * February 3–6: 1. Loren Gabel (BOS), 2. Shiann Darkangelo (TOR), 3. Corinne Schroeder (BOS) * February 11–12: 1.

Tricia Deguire Tricia is a feminine given name, often a short form (hypocorism) of Patricia. It may refer to: ;People: * Patricia Tricia Brock (born 1979), American contemporary Christian singer-songwriter * Tricia Brown (born 1979), Australian rugby union playe ...

(MON), 2. Elaine Chuli (TOR), 3. Alexandra Labelle (MON) * February 18–19: 1. Corinne Schroeder (BOS), 2. Samantha Ridgewell (BUF), 3.

Michela Cava Michela Cava (born March 26, 1994) is a Canadian ice hockey centre, currently playing in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) with PWHL Minnesota. Playing career Along with goaltender Danika Ranger, Cava is one of only two players t ...

(TOR) * February 24–26: 1.

(MET), 2. Tereza Vanišová (TOR), 3. Justine Reyes (CTW) * March 3–5: 1. Kennedy Marchment (CTW), 2. Sarah Bujold (MET), 3. Jillian Dempsey (BOS) * March 10–12: 1. Madison Packer (MET), 2. Daryl Watts (TOR), 3. Abbie Ives (CTW) * March 16–20: 1. Jonna Albers (MIN), 2. Amanda Leveille (MIN), 3. Michela Cava, (TOR)

Playoffs

The top four teams in the standings qualified for the Isobel Cup playoffs, which were held in two rounds. The first round was a best-of-three series, hosted at the Bentley Arena in Waltham, Massachusetts and the

Mattamy Athletic Centre Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was initially constructed in 1931 as an arena to host ice hockey games, though it has sinc ...

at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, starting Thursday, March 16, 2023. The two semi-final winners played a one-game championship final on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.

Bracket

Semifinals

(1) Boston Pride vs. (4) Minnesota Whitecaps

(2) Toronto Six vs. (3) Connecticut Whale

Isobel Cup final

References

Gamesheets

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:2022-23 PHF season

2022-23 PHF season The hyphen-minus is the most commonly used type of hyphen, widely used in digital documents. It is the only character that looks like a minus sign or a dash in many character sets such as ASCII or on most keyboards, so it is also used as such. ...

2022–23 PHF season PHF PHF PHF PHF