PHF ANNOUNCES 2023 ALL-STAR WEEKEND, ROSTERS, RECEPTION AND FIRST EVER ALL-STAR GAME IN CANADA; TORONTO SUN.,JANUARY 29TH,2023

Posted by BK on February 4, 2023 in Camera Call And Announcement, celebration, Events, Hockey, premiere, Showcase, Sports, Sports Highlight | Leave a comment

By Alex Lau, Sally Warburton & Steve Blackburn 45 players selected to compete for Canada, United States, World teams The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) announced its 2023 All-Star rosters for the showcase event on Sunday, January 29 in Toronto, Ontario. A total of 45 players have been selected and divided into three teams consisting of 15 American, Canadian, and International talents who played for national pride in a round-robin competition and championship. The action began at 7:00 p.m. ET at Mattamy Athletic Centre and broadcasted live across the United States on ESPN2 and in Canada on TSN,TSN.ca, and the TSN app. The All-Star format featured a round-robin between PHF Team Canada, United States and World. PHF Team Canada defeated The United States 2-1 in a shootout to open the tournament. World defeated Canada 2-1 and USA 3-2 to set up the final. In the finals, PHF Canada won an exciting 3-2 victory over PHF World in the Premier Hockey Federation’s annual all-star championship game, played Sunday at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. The Reception @ The HOCKEY HALL OF FAME “This season’s All-Star event is a true showcase of our player pool depth that includes an influx of new talent from both sides of the border and overseas, national team players, recent U SPORTS and NCAA standouts, and veterans who have helped build the PHF from the very beginning,” said Reagan Carey, PHF Commissioner. “The players who have been selected are all extremely deserving of this honor and highly motivated to represent their countries and this new PHF era on the All-Star stage, which should make for a competitive and entertaining weekend of hockey.” The Reception @ The HOCKEY HALL OF FAME Here is some background from the PHF tournament. Among the 45 selections are 24 PHF newcomers, headlined by top scorers Loren Gabel of the Boston Pride and Brittany Howard of the Toronto Six. Boston’s Élizabeth Giguère and Corinne Schroeder are also included among a talented group of first-year pros like Natalie Snodgrass of the Minnesota Whitecaps and Jade Downie-Landry of the Montreal Force who are making immediate impacts in the PHF after successful college careers.  There are 17 PHF veterans with previous All-Star experience competing in this event including Madison Packer of the Metropolitan Riveters who will be making a record sixth All-Star appearance. Boston’s Jillian Dempsey and Kaleigh Fratkinhave both been named All-Stars for a fifth time after winning the 2022 showcase together and alongside Buffalo’s Dominique Kremer and Connecticut’s Kennedy Marchment who are both named for the second-straight season. Four players with previous PHF experience were playing in their first All-Star game including Toronto’s Kati Tabin, Saroya Tinker, Tereza Vanišová, and Minnesota’s Denisa Křížová.  Fans saw 25 All-Stars who have senior national team experience including all 15 players on the international squad that brings together talent representing Austria, China, Czechia, Finland, Hungary, and Sweden. Křížová, Toronto’s Dominika Lásková, Connecticut’s Kateřina Mrázová, and Boston’s Aneta Tejralová all won bronze at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Montreal’s Ann-Sophie Bettez also has a World Championship bronze when Team Canada won in 2019, while the United States roster features 2018 Olympic gold medalists in Boston’s Kali Flanagan, Minnesota’s Sidney Morin, and the Riveters’ Amanda Pelkey. The Pride and Riveters lead the way with nine players named to the rosters, followed by T6 with eight, six Whitecaps, five Whale, and four members of the Force and Beauts. All-Stars were selected by the league in consultation with staff from all PHF teams. Coaches will be announced at a later date, as will team captains once voted upon by the players. Schedule: Saturday January 28 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Youth Skills Clinic at Mattamy Athletic Centre (50 Carlton St.) 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. VIP Reception at Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge St.) Sunday January 29 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Morning Skates at Mattamy Athletic Centre (50 Carlton St.) 7:00 p.m. All-Star Showcase at Mattamy Athletic Centre (50 Carlton St.) 2023 PHF ALL-STAR ROSTERS *denotes number of previous All-Star accolades ^PHF returnee named to first All-Star game TEAM CANADA Skaters: Kelly Babstock (MET)**Ann-Sophie Bettez (MON) Sarah Bujold (MET) Catherine Daoust (MON) Jade Downie-Landry (MON) Kaleigh Fratkin (BOS)**** Loren Gabel (BOS) Élizabeth Giguère (BOS) Mikyla Grant-Mentis (BUF)* Brittany Howard (TOR) Kennedy Marchment (CTW)* Kati Tabin (TOR)^ Saroya Tinker (TOR)^ Emma Woods (TOR)* Goaltender: Corinne Schroeder (BOS) TEAM USA Skaters: Jonna Albers (MIN)*** Sydney Brodt (MIN) Shiann Darkangelo (TOR)*** Jillian Dempsey (BOS)**** Kali Flanagan (BOS)* Taylor Girard (CTW)* Dominique Kremer (BUF)* Patti Marshall (MIN)* Sidney Morin (MIN) Madison Packer (MET)***** Amanda Pelkey (MET)** Natalie Snodgrass (MIN) Allie Thunstrom (BOS)*** Olivia Zafuto (BOS) Goaltender: Abbie Ives (CTW)* TEAM WORLD Skaters: Taylor Baker (MON/HUN) Ebba Berglund (MET/SWE) Fanni Gasparics (MET/HUN) Anna Kilponen (MET/FIN) Denisa Křížová (MIN/CZE)^ Dominika Lásková (TOR/CZE) Leah Lum (TOR/CHN) Antonia Matzka (BUF/AUT) Kateřina Mrázová (CTW/CZE)* Emma Nuutinen (BUF/FIN) Lenka Serdar (CTW/CZE) Aneta Tejralová (BOS/CZE) Minttu Tuominen (MET/FIN) Tereza Vanišová (TOR/CZE)^ Goaltender: Eveliina Mäkinen (MET/FIN) Team Canada took on Team USA to start the three-game round-robin. The winner played Team World in the second game, while the losing team faced Team World in game three. Each round-robin game consisted of two seven-minute periods of stoppage time played four-on-four. A one-round shootout took place between periods, providing both teams the opportunity to add a bonus goal to their score. If round-robin games are tied after both periods, a three-round shootout will be used to determine a winner. The championship game featured the top two teams following the three-game round-robin. If all three teams hold 1-1 records, the top two teams will be determined by goal differential. The final consisted of two eight-minute periods of stoppage time played four-on-four to crown the All-Star champion. If tied, a four-minute three-on-three overtime will be played, followed by a three-round shootout to declare a winner if necessary. The 2023 PHF All-Star Weekend is presented by Air Canada and Sailun Tire. About the Premier Hockey Federation 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, Montreal Force, and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup. As part of a two-year agreement with ESPN, live coverage of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 PHF seasons is available exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States, and provides international rights for games which includes TSN in Canada. For more information visitpremierhockeyfederation.com. We would like to thank Karine Delage, Karyzma Agency for the invitation to this event.