The 2021–22 PHF season was the seventh season of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), which was known as the National Women's Hockey League during the previous six seasons, in North America. After mostly playing in a bubble environment the previous season due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the PHF commenced the 2021–22 season with a normal travel-based schedule.

League business Following the 2021 Isobel Cup Finals, Lisa Haley was appointed as the league's vice president of hockey operations.

On April 28, 2021, the league announced that it was planning to double the salary cap of every franchise to $300,000, based on projections of financial stability for the seventh season.

On September 7, 2021, it was announced that the league would be renamed from the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) to the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF).

On February 23, 2022, the league announced that all teams were allowed to sign one additional player for the remainder of the season and spend an additional $10,000 above the current $300,000 salary cap. Additionally, all clubs would also be allowed to dress 18 skaters per game, up from 17 for the rest of the 2021–22 season.

Expansion Plans for an expansion team in Montreal, Quebec, for the seventh season were delayed. Boston Pride president Miles Arnone, a member of the BTM Group, the group behind establishing the expansion club, confirmed the league announcement. With concerns over the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the earliest season for an expansion team in Montreal would be 2022–23.

Team ownership On May 10, the NWHL announced the sale and transfer of ownership of the Connecticut Whale to Shared Hockey Enterprises (SHE), LLC, led by Tobin Kelly. The Whale became the first of the four founding teams to be sold to outside ownership after the league's October 2020 announcement of its transition to joint venture models. The Metropolitan Riveters then were sold to BTM Partners on May 26, giving them control of three of the league's six franchises. A transfer of ownership from W Hockey Partners, the new ownership installed John Boynton to serve as the Riveters' chairman. The NWHL finished selling its league operated teams to independent ownership with the sale of the Buffalo Beauts and Minnesota Whitecaps to a joint partnership of NLTT Ventures, LLC, and Top Tier Sports on June 28, 2021.

Front office changes + General managersOff–seasonTeam 2020–21 GM2021–22 GM Notes Toronto Six Mandy Cronin Krystiana (Krysti) Clarke Clarke's background has included a role as manager of operations with York United FC of Canadian Premier League soccer (*) Indicates interim.

Coaching changes + CoachesOff–seasonTeam 2020–21 coach2021–22 coach Notes Toronto Six Digit Murphy Mark Joslin Joslin spent the last four seasons with the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Toronto Patriots

Regular season

Standings

The regular season schedule was published on August 5, 2021.

Standings as of March 22, 2022.

Team Connecticut Whale 20 15 3 2 47 15 0 0 74 44 +30 142 Toronto Six 20 16 3 1 46 13 3 0 66 45 +21 154 Boston Pride 20 10 5 5 32 7 2 1 48 47 +1 152 Metropolitan Riveters 20 7 12 1 21 6 1 0 54 65 -11 195 Minnesota Whitecaps 20 6 13 1 19 6 0 0 62 64 -12 202 Buffalo Beauts 20 6 14 0 15 3 3 0 44 73 -29 176

Schedule

All times listed are Eastern Time.

Regular season schedule Date Visitor Score Home OT Notes November 6 Connecticut 1–4 Metropolitan Toronto 4–3 Buffalo Minnesota 4–6 Boston November 7 Minnesota 0–1 Boston Connecticut 6–5 Metropolitan November 13 Boston 4–3 Connecticut OT November 14 Boston 1–3 Connecticut November 20 Connecticut 1–5 Toronto Buffalo 4–3 Metropolitan OT Boston 0–2 Minnesota November 21 Connecticut 2–3 Toronto Boston 2–1 Minnesota OT Buffalo 3–5 Metropolitan December 4 Minnesota 1–5 Connecticut Toronto 1–2 Boston SO December 5 Minnesota 2–4 Connecticut Toronto 2–8 Boston December 11 Metropolitan 1–2 Toronto Buffalo — Minnesota Postponed December 12 Metropolitan 0–3 Toronto Buffalo — Minnesota Postponed December 18 Boston — Metropolitan Postponed Connecticut 3–1 Buffalo Toronto 4–0 Minnesota December 19 Toronto 2–1 Minnesota Connecticut 3–1 Buffalo Boston — Metropolitan Postponed January 8 Minnesota — Toronto Postponed Boston — Buffalo Postponed January 9 Boston — Buffalo Postponed Minnesota — Toronto Postponed January 15 Metropolitan 1–5 Connecticut Buffalo 1–6 Toronto January 16 Buffalo 3–8 Toronto Metropolitan 2–3 Connecticut January 22 Toronto — Connecticut Postponed Minnesota 3–1 Buffalo Metropolitan 1–3 Boston January 23 Toronto — Connecticut Postponed Minnesota 6–1 Buffalo Metropolitan 4–3 Boston February 5 Connecticut 3–2 Boston Buffalo 1–8 Minnesota Rescheduled from December 11 February 6 Buffalo 6–2 Minnesota Rescheduled from December 12 Connecticut 6–1 Boston February 12 Minnesota 2–6 Toronto Rescheduled from January 8 Metropolitan 2–3 Buffalo February 13 Minnesota 1–2 Toronto Rescheduled from January 9 Metropolitan 3–2 Buffalo February 19 Metropolitan 2–5 Minnesota February 20 Metropolitan 7–4 Minnesota February 21 Toronto 0–3 Buffalo February 26 Toronto 4–3 Metropolitan Buffalo 3–4 Boston February 27 Buffalo 0–1 Boston Toronto 3-2 Metropolitan March 5 Boston 2–0 Metropolitan Rescheduled from December 18 Connecticut 4–2 Minnesota March 6 Connecticut 4–1 Minnesota Boston 2–3 Metropolitan OT Rescheduled from December 19 March 12 Minnesota 4-2 Metropolitan Boston 1-2 Toronto OT Buffalo 3-5 Connecticut March 13 Boston 3–4 Toronto OT Buffalo 0-4 Connecticut Minnesota 3–4 Metropolitan March 19 Toronto 5-4 Connecticut OT Rescheduled from January 22 Boston 1-2 Buffalo OT Rescheduled from January 8 March 20 Boston 2-3 Buffalo OT Rescheduled from January 9 Toronto 0-5 Connecticut Rescheduled from January 23

Playoffs

The Isobel Cup playoffs were held in the Tampa Bay area at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Florida. All six teams will compete in the postseason. The preliminary rounds will be played on March 25, with the semifinals on March 27 and the championship game on March 28. The championship game will air live on ESPN2 and TSN2.

Boston vs. Buffalo

Metropolitan vs. Minnesota

Connecticut vs. Minnesota

Boston vs. Toronto

Boston vs. Connecticut

All-Star Game

The 2022 PHF All-Star Game was originally scheduled to take place at the home of the Toronto Six, but was moved to Buffalo, home of the Beauts, due to COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario. At the same time as the relocation announcement, it was announced that the 2023 All-Star Game would be held in Toronto.

Draft The 2021 NWHL Draft resulted in Taylor Girard being selected first overall by the Connecticut Whale.

References

External links League website