Premier Hockey Federation (Previously known as the NWHL) 2021-2022 season primer
Hello and welcome to another year of me doing a PHF primer! This may not be as long as my previous ones because I’m an adult ™ with a job now, but I hope to provide some important information so that everyone can watch the PHF this year!
I am trying to make this a little more slim this year, both due to my own constraints and because I’m writing this for people who know absolutely nothing or very little about the PHF and want the basics. For those of you who have watched before but maybe haven’t kept up with offseason changes and want a refresher, feel free to go to the end and see links on that!
Last year I was able to introduce five players per team, i dont have the time to do that this year, but you can see some of it in the 2020-2021 primer
Formerly the National Women’s Hockey League now called the Premier Hockey Federation
There are six teams: The Buffalo Beauts, Boston Pride, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and Toronto Six
Each team plays 20 games. The season goes from November to March, with a break at the end of December
This is the seventh year of existence
Salary Cap is currently $300,000 per team, averaging $15,000 per player on team
The season starts in one week! November 6
Rosters are still being finalized, but the majority of the players have signed. There’s also quite a few that have signed but haven’t been announced yet, usually because they try to space out announcements for hype
As of this year, all six teams are privately owned, the first time in league history this has happened.
All games are available to watch on ESPN+ for American viewers, and Twitch.tv/nwhl for non-American viewers. If you can’t access ESPN+ feel free to hit me up and i can help out. I definitely recommend a ESPN+ subscription if feasible for you, though, as you can also watch NCAA women’s hockey!
Two points for each win, one for overtime loss
Same three, twenty minute periods, with five-minute overtimes and shootouts in the regular season
However, you can sign up to 25 players, and as there’s no “ahl” type equivalent to call up from, most teams like to have players on reserve.
Body checking, but not body contact, is illegal. The difference between the two is subtle. USA hockey defines body contact as ““Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck, provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off of the puck.” Most players are happy with this. Here are some examples
Fighting is an automatic ejection and game suspension. However, it still happens.
Playoff games are one-off elimination games. Last year, playoffs were the top four teams making it, but the format changed a few times because Covid, so it may be different this year!
Player trades typically do not happen in the current PHF, as most players have full time jobs outside the PHF and can’t afford to move their life. If it happens, it’s usually by request.
Also due to the PHF not being a full time job, player contracts are only a year long.
Players usually sign autographs in a designated table after games, but unsure what the protocol will be in the pandemic
Most of the league develops in NCAA or Canada’s USports program and only join the PHF after completing four years of college, with occasional exceptions to international players.
There is a North American draft and an International draft for this reason, however, players don’t have to sign with the teams that drafted them. The teams just have a window of exclusive negotiation with their draft pick but if not signed in a few weeks period, become free agents.
After the NCAA season is finished in March, some players may sign to help a PHF team in the playoffs.
Boston Pride play at Warriors Arena in Boston, Massachusetts (specifically the Allston area.) This is their twitter, instagram, facebook. They are one of the founding teams that will be entering their six season and won the first ever Isobel Cup as well as last seasons Isobel Cup.
Buffalo Beauts play at Northtown Center in Amherst, NY. This is their twitter, instagram, facebook. They are a founding team entering their sixth season. They won the Isobel cup in season two.
Connecticut Whale play at Danbury Arena in Danbury, CT. This is their twitter, instagram, facebook. They are a founding team entering their sixth season and haven’t won a cup yet.
Metropolitan Riveters split their games between Mennen Ice Arena in Morristown, New Jersey and Prudential Center Practice Facility in Newark, New Jersey. This is their twitter, instagram, facebook. They are a founding team and won the cup in season three.
Minnesota Whitecaps play at Tria Rink in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is their twitter, instagram, youtube, facebook. This will be their third season. They have one Isobel cup, awarded in 2019.
Toronto Six play at Canlan Ice Sports York in North York, Ontario in York University. Stay tuned for updates at their twitter, instagram, facebook, youtube. They also have a linktree.
Once again you can check out some of my team section primer for some player profile, although players have changed teams and some aren’t in the league anymore, a lot are still there! Just make sure to check and make sure they’re on the same team as it is last years. if anyone wants to make a primer for individual teams, im glad to help, i just can’t do six on my own anymore.
Other good websites or follows to keep up to date with the latest PHF news:
The Ice Garden (they have their own introduction to the 2021-2022 season which includes links you wanna read about important offseason changes, such as the change to the trans inclusion policy, new gms and coaches, new ownership, and a signing tracker, as well as the basics)
And just to highlight some blogs who post the PHF on here though this is not a comprehensive list, just some of my friends who i know post it: @craigzylegs @bjorkie @prettymint @gryz @pavelzacha @krissywendell @jockcoded @jakejuentzel @toronto-six @antibruins @tkafuckit @ccoyle @minnesotafightcaps @pensdanton @dirtywaterbears @chaos-hockey @mf-mightyducks
(if you’re missing on here it’s because tumblr physically wouldn’t let me tag you or i wasn’t sure if you were comfy with inclusion. it also obviously has bruins leanings bc thats my nhl team)
Feel free to add yourself to this if you post phf!
kianamaiart
prguitarman
gummygunk
janainaart
blakekathryn
jbbartram-illu
theartofmadeline
jacobvanloon
areudirty
