PHF Roster Recap: May

We are just under one month into PHF free agency ahead of Season 8, and things are starting to pick up speed. Five of the six franchises have officially announced signings. Three of those five teams have signed players who will be new to the league and making their PHF debuts in the fall

Eight of the 25 players officially announced have signed two-year contracts - something new to the PHF. Next off-season, for the first time, some players won’t have to go through contract negotiations. But before we worry about Season 9, here’s what the rosters are looking like as teams build for Season 8.

Boston Pride

The two-time defending Isobel Cup champs have yet to officially announce any signings, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy. Word on the street is that the Pride have not only added college standout Élizabeth Giguère (UMD, Clarkson), but also Whitecaps’ forward Allie Thunstrom to the team that others will be looking to knock off of the mountain top in Season 8. We expect that the majority of their group will be back and that Lovisa Selander will once again reclaim her role as Boston’s no. 1 netminder.

Goalie:

Defense:

Forward:

Buffalo Beauts

Two years into his tenure as general manager of the Beauts, Nate Oliver made his biggest splash a mere days after free agency started when he was able to lure star forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis away from the Six. To no one’s surprise, Buffalo has been the most active thus far and has already announced a PHF-high seven signings.

Goalie: Lovisa Berndtsson

Defense: Dominique Kremer (2 yrs), Jess Healey (2 yrs), Allison Attea

Forward: Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Courtney Maud, Jenna Suokko

Connecticut Whale

After their best season ever and being 14 minutes away from a championship, the Whale are reloading in hopes of taking that final step and knocking that crown off of Boston’s heads. Not only did they announce that Head Coach Colton Orr’s contract had been extended for the next two seasons, but three of their first four re-signings were also for two years. The Whale are coming for the Cup, and we’re not sure anyone can stop them with the team they are assembling.

Goalie:

Defense: Allie Munroe (2 yrs)

Forward: Kennedy Marchment (2 yrs), Taylor Girard (2 yrs), Emma Vlasic

Metropolitan Riveters

Once again the Riveters are revamping their roster and Season 8’s version will likely look vastly different from years past judging by their spring signings. Four of their six signings thus far will be new to the team, and three of those new to the league. With a new GM (their third in three seasons) and a new Head Coach, the Rivs are hoping to flip the script on what has been a nondescript past four seasons in New Jersey.

Goalie:

Defense: Ebba Berglund

Forward: Madison Packer (2 yrs), Kendall Cornine, Amanda Pelkey, Sarah Bujold, Reka Dabasi

Minnesota Whitecaps

These aren’t going to look like your older sister’s Whitecaps my friends. There are crazy, franchise-altering changes going down in Minnesota in what seems to be an extreme overreaction to a down season that saw their netminder miss multiple months with an injury. At most, they may have five to seven returning players in total and at this point, even that number seems high.

Goalie:

Defense: Sidney Morin (2 yrs), Sydney Baldwin (2 yrs)

Forward: Sydney Brodt, Ashleigh Brykaliuk (2 yrs)

Toronto Six

Under new ownership, and with a new general manager in Hall-of-Famer Angela James, the Six have already re-signed four of their core players and we expect that there will probably be triple that when Season 8 starts. Other than Grant-Mentis’ departure and perhaps a few others, Toronto’s roster that finished Season 7 with a record of 16-3-1 only needs some minor tinkering. That group can play with anyone.

Goalie: Elaine Chuli

Defense: Taylor Davison, Taylor Woods

Forward: Shiann Darkangelo