Brittany Howard, Loren Gabel headline rosters for PHF all-star showcase in Toronto

Premier Hockey Federation leading goal scorer Brittany Howard and seven Toronto Six teammates are headed to the all-star event later this month.

Howard, who has 12 goals in 12 games this season, will be joined by Kati Tabin, Saroya Tinker, Emma Woods, Shiann Darkangelo, Dominika Lásková, Leah Lum, and Tereza Vanišová after the league announced the rosters Tuesday for its showcase at Mattamy Athletic Centre on Jan. 29.

Loren Gabel of the Boston Pride, who leads the league’s points race with 19 (nine goals, 10 assists) in 11 games, former Toronto Six forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis of the Buffalo Beauts and Howard will all be part of Team Canada. Madison Packer of the Metropolitan Riveters, who will be making a record sixth all-star appearance, is competing on Team USA.

Forty-five players in total were selected and will be divided into three teams consisting of 15 Canadian, American, and international players. The three teams will play in a round-robin tournament, with the top two competing for the championship.

“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,” PHF commissioner Reagan Carey said in a release.

Canada opens against the U.S. to start the all-star tournament with the winner facing the World team in the second game and the losing team meeting World in the third game.

Each round-robin game will consist of two seven-minute periods of four-on-four with a one-round shootout between periods for a bonus goal. Tied games will be decided by a three-round shootout.

The championship game features the top two teams from the round robin playing two eight-minute periods of four-on-four, with a four-minute overtime and a three-round shootout if needed to break a tie.

The event is taking place in Canada for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a postponement in Toronto last year. The showcase will begin at 7 p.m. and be broadcast live in Canada on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN app. ESPN2 will carry the action live in the U.S.

The PHF, in its eighth season, pays players from a salary cap of US$750,000 per team this season. The league intends to double the cap to $1.5 million in 2023-24.

The rosters:

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).

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