# 2022–23 PHF season

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, 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 of the Buffalo Beauts is from Slovakia.
An additional four players are North American-born but hold multiple citizenship 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 (Canada/China), and Lenka Serdar (Czechia/United States).
Player nationalities
* Austria: Antonia Matzka, Janine Weber
* China: Leah Lum
* Czechia: Denisa Křížová, Dominika Lásková, Kateřina Mrázová, Lenka Serdar, Aneta Tejralová, Tereza Vanišová
* Finland: Anna Kilponen, Eveliina Mäkinen, Emma Nuutinen, Meeri Räisänen, Jenna Suokko, Minttu Tuominen
* Hungary: Taylor Baker, Réka Dabasi, Fanni Garát-Gasparics
* Slovakia: Janka Hlinka, Iveta Klimášová
* Sweden: Lovisa Berndtsson, Ebba Berglund, Ronja Mogren, Lovisa Selander
* Switzerland: Sarah Forster

### Front office changes

On May 17, 2022, the Minnesota Whitecaps announced that Jack Brodt, 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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Boston Pride | 24 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 92 | 52 | +40 | 54 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Toronto Six | 24 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 87 | 62 | +25 | 51 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Connecticut Whale | 24 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 83 | 66 | +17 | 43 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Minnesota Whitecaps | 24 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 58 | 66 | −8 | 33 | Playoffs |
| 5 | Metropolitan Riveters | 24 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 64 | 79 | −15 | 30 | |
| 6 | Montreal Force | 24 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 56 | 70 | −14 | 23 | |
| 7 | Buffalo Beauts | 24 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 50 | 95 | −45 | 18 | |
Notes
* ↑ A win in regulation time is awarded 3 points, 2 points are awarded for an overtime/shootout win, 1 point is awarded for an overtime/shootout loss, 0 points are awarded for a regulation loss
* ↑ Tiebreaker order is: points, head-to-head record, regulation wins, wins, goal difference

### 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).
Regular season :
| Date | Time | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Notes |
| November 5 | 2:00 | Minnesota | 2–3 | Toronto | OT | |
| November 5 | 7:00 | Montreal | 5–4 | Buffalo | SO | |
| November 5 | 7:00 | Connecticut | 0–4 | Boston | | Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (1) |
| November 6 | 11:00 | Minnesota | 2–3 | Toronto | | |
| November 6 | 1:00 | Montreal | 2–3 | Buffalo | | |
| November 6 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 0–2 | Boston | | Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (2) |
| November 18 | 8:00 | Boston | 2–0 | Minnesota | | Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (3) |
| November 19 | 1:00 | Toronto | 3–6 | Metropolitan | | |
| November 19 | 6:00 | Buffalo | | Connecticut | | Postponed due to inclement weather; rescheduled for January 17 |
| November 19 | 7:00 | Boston | 5–4 | Minnesota | OT | |
| November 20 | 12:00 | Toronto | 5–2 | Metropolitan | | |
| November 20 | 12:00 | Buffalo | | Connecticut | | Postponed due to inclement weather; rescheduled for January 18 |
| November 26 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 3–5 | Montreal | | Hat-trick recorded by Jade Downie-Landry |
| November 26 | 7:00 | Toronto | 2–3 | Boston | OT | |
| November 27 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 3–2 | Montreal | | |
| November 27 | 2:00 | Toronto | 7–3 | Boston | | |
| December 3 | 1:00 | Connecticut | 3–4 | Montreal | SO | |
| December 3 | 7:00 | Metropolitan | 3–4 | Minnesota | | |
| December 4 | 1:00 | Connecticut | 3–2 | Montreal | | |
| December 4 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 1–4 | Minnesota | | |
| December 9 | 7:00 | Minnesota | 0–2 | Connecticut | | Shutout recorded by Abbie Ives (1) |
| December 10 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 3–2 | Toronto | SO | |
| December 10 | 2:00 | Minnesota | 4–3 | Connecticut | | |
| December 10 | 7:00 | Boston | 3–0 | Buffalo | | Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (4) |
| December 11 | 1:00 | Boston | 7–5 | Buffalo | | Hat-trick recorded by Jillian Dempsey (1) |
| December 11 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 2–5 | Toronto | | Hat-trick recorded by Brittany Howard (1) |
| December 16 | 7:00 | Toronto | 2–1 | Buffalo | | Played outdoors at Riverworks in Buffalo |
| December 17 | 2:00 | Metropolitan | 5–2 | Connecticut | | |
| December 17 | 7:00 | Toronto | 6–4 | Buffalo | | |
| December 17 | 7:00 | Montreal | 2–5 | Minnesota | | Hat-trick recorded by Natalie Snodgrass(1) |
| December 18 | 2:00 | Boston | 4–6 | Connecticut | | |
| December 18 | 2:00 | Montreal | 4–1 | Minnesota | | |
| January 6 | 7:00 | Boston | 5–2 | Connecticut | | |
| January 7 | 3:00 | Toronto | 3–2 | Montreal | SO | |
| January 7 | 7:00 | Boston | 4–1 | Metropolitan | | |
| January 7 | 7:00 | Minnesota | 4–1 | Buffalo | | |
| January 8 | 1:00 | Connecticut | 6–0 | Metropolitan | | Shutout recorded by Meeri Räisänen (1) |
| January 8 | 1:00 | Minnesota | 5–3 | Buffalo | | |
| January 8 | 2:00 | Toronto | 3–2 | Montreal | | |
| January 14 | 3:00 | Montreal | 5–4 | Connecticut | | Played at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Pittsburgh |
| January 14 | 3:00 | Minnesota | 3–2 | Metropolitan | | |
| January 14 | 7:00 | Buffalo | 0–8 | Boston | | Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (5) |
| January 15 | 2:00 | Buffalo | 1–2 | Boston | OT | |
| January 15 | 2:00 | Minnesota | 4–1 | Metropolitan | | |
| January 17 | 7:00 | Buffalo | 0–3 | Connecticut | | Rescheduled from November 19 Shutout recorded by Abbie Ives (2) |
| January 18 | 7:30 | Buffalo | 3–7 | Connecticut | | Rescheduled from November 20 Hat-trick recorded by Kennedy Marchment (1) |
| January 21 | 2:00 | Connecticut | 4–7 | Toronto | | |
| January 21 | 3:00 | Boston | 5–0 | Montreal | | Hat-trick recorded by Loren Gabel (1) Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (6) |
| January 21 | 7:00 | Metropolitan | 1–4 | Buffalo | | |
| January 22 | 1:00 | Metropolitan | 8–2 | Buffalo | | |
| January 22 | 1:00 | Boston | 1–2 | Montreal | OT | |
| January 22 | 2:00 | Connecticut | 4–1 | Toronto | | |
| January 27 | 7:00 | Montreal | 1–4 | Connecticut | | |
| February 3 | 7:00 | Connecticut | 1–2 | Metropolitan | SO | |
| February 4 | 1:00 | Minnesota | | Montreal | | Postponed due to inclement weather; rescheduled for February 6 |
| February 4 | 2:00 | Buffalo | 0–3 | Toronto | | Shutout recorded by Elaine Chuli (1) |
| February 4 | 7:00 | Metropolitan | 0–5 | Boston | | Shutout recorded by Corinne Schroeder (7) |
| February 5 | 1:00 | Minnesota | 4–1 | Montreal | | |
| February 5 | 2:00 | Buffalo | 2–7 | Toronto | | |
| February 5 | 2:00 | Connecticut | 2–5 | Boston | | |
| February 6 | 1:00 | Minnesota | 3–2 | Montreal | | Rescheduled from February 4 |
| February 11 | 2:00 | Montreal | 3–0 | Toronto | | Shutout recorded by Tricia Deguire (1) |
| February 12 | 2:00 | Montreal | 1–2 | Toronto | | |
| February 18 | 7:00 | Toronto | 5–3 | Connecticut | | |
| February 18 | 7:00 | Montreal | 1–4 | Boston | | |
| February 18 | 7:00 | Buffalo | 4–2 | Minnesota | | |
| February 19 | 2:00 | Toronto | 4–6 | Connecticut | | |
| February 19 | 2:00 | Buffalo | 1–0 | Minnesota | | Shutout recorded by Samantha Ridgewell (1) |
| February 19 | 3:00 | Montreal | 1–2 | Boston | | |
| February 24 | 7:00 | Boston | 2–6 | Metropolitan | | |
| February 25 | 7:00 | Toronto | 1–0 | Minnesota | | Shutout recorded by Elaine Chuli (2) |
| February 25 | 7:30 | Buffalo | 3–1 | Montreal | | |
| February 26 | 1:00 | Buffalo | 2–6 | Montreal | | |
| February 26 | 1:00 | Toronto | 7–1 | Minnesota | | |
| February 26 | 3:00 | Metropolitan | 3–6 | Connecticut | | Hat-trick recorded by Justine Reyes (1) |
| March 3 | 7:00 | Minnesota | 4–5 | Boston | SO | |
| March 4 | 1:00 | Minnesota | 1–5 | Boston | | |
| March 4 | 7:00 | Connecticut | 2–1 | Buffalo | OT | |
| March 4 | 7:00 | Montreal | 1–2 | Metropolitan | OT | |
| March 5 | 1:00 | Connecticut | 4–2 | Buffalo | | |
| March 5 | 2:00 | Montreal | 3–4 | Metropolitan | | |
| March 10 | 7:00 | Buffalo | 2–5 | Metropolitan | | |
| March 11 | 2:00 | Boston | 3–2 | Toronto | | |
| March 11 | 2:00 | Buffalo | 2–3 | Metropolitan | | |
| March 11 | 7:00 | Connecticut | 3–0 | Minnesota | | Shutout recorded by Abbie Ives (3) |
| March 12 | 2:00 | Boston | 4–5 | Toronto | | |
| March 12 | 2:00 | Connecticut | 3–1 | Minnesota | | |

### News and notes

* December 10, 2022: Boston Pride goaltender Corinne Schroeder 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 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.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Loren Gabel | Boston Pride | 22 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 4 |
| Kennedy Marchment | Connecticut Whale | 24 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 6 |
| Jillian Dempsey | Boston Pride | 24 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 6 |
| Taylor Girard | Connecticut Whale | 24 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 16 |
| Brittany Howard | Toronto Six | 20 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 10 |
| Shiann Darkangelo | Toronto Six | 24 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 16 |
| Emma Woods | Toronto Six | 24 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 6 |
| Jade Downie-Landry | Montreal Force | 24 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 20 |
| Ann-Sophie Bettez | Montreal Force | 23 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 8 |
| Élizabeth Giguère | Boston Pride | 18 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 4 |
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:
* 11. Madison Packer (F), Metropolitan Riveters: 24 GP, 11 G, 10 A, 21 Pts, 14 PIM
* 14. Mikyla Grant-Mentis (F), Buffalo Beauts: 24 GP, 9 G, 12 A, 21 Pts, 20 PIM
* 15. Natalie Snodgrass (F), Minnesota Whitecaps: 22 GP, 10 G, 10 A, 20 Pts, 4 PIM

#### 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.
| Player | Team | GS | TOI | W | L | SA | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Corinne Schroeder | Boston Pride | 22 | 1290:15 | 19 | 1 | 797 | 36 | 7 | .955 | 1.67 |
| Amanda Leveille | Minnesota Whitecaps | 17 | 1013:00 | 9 | 6 | 533 | 41 | 0 | .923 | 2.43 |
| Tricia Deguire | Montreal Force | 15 | 902:41 | 5 | 9 | 478 | 39 | 1 | .918 | 2.59 |
| Elaine Chuli | Toronto Six | 19 | 1127:00 | 12 | 5 | 591 | 49 | 2 | .919 | 2.58 |
| Marie-Soleil Deschênes | Montreal Force | 9 | 544:01 | 3 | 5 | 291 | 25 | 0 | .914 | 2.76 |
| Katie Burt | Metropolitan Riveters | 11 | 647:00 | 5 | 5 | 308 | 30 | 0 | .903 | 2.78 |
| Abbie Ives | Connecticut Whale | 16 | 935:00 | 10 | 6 | 410 | 40 | 3 | .896 | 2.74 |
| Lovisa Berndtsson | Buffalo Beauts | 13 | 714:06 | 2 | 8 | 402 | 43 | 0 | .893 | 3.61 |
| Meeri Räisänen | Connecticut Whale | 9 | 515:35 | 4 | 2 | 226 | 24 | 1 | .894 | 2.79 |
| Rachel McQuigge | Metropolitan Riveters | 8 | 477:16 | 4 | 4 | 242 | 27 | 0 | .888 | 3.39 |

### Awards and honors

* Most Valuable Player: Loren Gabel (BOS)
* Outstanding Player of the Year: Loren Gabel (BOS)
* Defender of the Year: Kali Flanagan (BOS)
* Goaltender of the Year: Corinne Schroeder (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
* Minnesota: Denisa Křížová
* Montreal: Laura Jardin
* Toronto: Shiann Darkangelo
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 (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. Leah Lum (TOR)
* November 26–27: 1. Jade Downie-Landry (MON), 2. Ann-Sophie Bettez (MON), 3. Fanni Garát-Gasparics (MET)
* December 3–4: 1. Kennedy Marchment (CTW), 2. Minttu Tuominen (MET), 3. Sydney Brodt (MIN)
* December 9–11: 1. Jillian Dempsey (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 (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 (MON), 2. Elaine Chuli (TOR), 3. Alexandra Labelle (MON)
* February 18–19: 1. Corinne Schroeder (BOS), 2. Samantha Ridgewell (BUF), 3. Michela Cava (TOR)
* February 24–26: 1. Madison Packer (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 Bentley Arena in Waltham, Massachusetts and Mattamy Athletic Centre 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

    As of March 26, 2023
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Boston Pride | 2 | 1 | – | | | |
| 4 | Minnesota Whitecaps | 5 | 4 | – | | | |
| 4 | Minnesota Whitecaps | 5 | 4 | – | Minnesota Whitecaps | Minnesota Whitecaps | 3 |
| | | | | | Toronto Six | Toronto Six | 4$^{OT}$ |
| 2 | Toronto Six | 3 | 3$^{OT}$ | 3 | Toronto Six | Toronto Six | 4$^{OT}$ |
| 3 | Connecticut Whale | 5 | 2 | 0 | | | |

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

* Minnesota Whitecaps win series, 2–0

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

* Toronto Six win series, 2–1