Premier Hockey Federation purchased by PWHPA

Thursday night multiple sources reported that the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), the professional women’s hockey league home to the Minnesota Whitecaps, has been acquired by a new organization.

UPDATE: New pro women’s hockey league set to launch in January with 6 teams in North America.

TSN stated that the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises, financers of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA), purchased the PHF. TSN’s Julia Tocheri also stated this move voids PHF players’ contracts.

recapping/based on what I’ve heard:

– Billie Jean King Enterprises/Mark Walter Group have bought the PHF. These are the groups that have been working w/ PWHPA since 2022 to establish a new league.

– PHF players contracts have been voided. Acquisition, not merger.

— Julia Tocheri (@juliatocheri) June 30, 2023

This would impact several University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) alums, including Whitecaps captain Sydney Brodt who recently signed a new two-year deal to stay with Minnesota. She told WDIO’s Alicia Tipcke on Wednesday that she planned for that to be her “full time job”.

Hearts out to all the PHF players upon hearing the buyout news.

Just talked with @UMDWHockey alum Sydney Brodt Wednesday on her excitement to sign a new 2-year deal with the MN Whitecaps. She praised the league for their work growing the sport and support of its athletes. pic.twitter.com/kzbNegXjEn

— Alicia Tipcke (@AliciaTipcke) June 30, 2023

Other former Bulldogs with PHF contracts as of Thursday include Anna Klein, Sidney Morin, Ashleigh Brykaliuk, and Maggie Flaherty with the Whitecaps, Emma Soderberg with the Connecticut Whale, and Naomi Rogge and Anneke Linser with the Metropolitan Riveters.

According to The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian players in both the PHF and PWHPA were informed in separate meetings on Thursday. A source close to the Whitecaps confirmed to WDIO the team was informed at a town hall meeting they were called to earlier on Thursday.

The Mark Walter Group, along with Billie Jean King Enterprises, have been working with the PWHPA since May 2022 to explore the launch of a new professional women’s hockey league. https://t.co/csHywURZmz

— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) June 30, 2023

This ends a divide between the PHF and PWHPA as the two currently operating pro women’s hockey leagues in North America, and could result in one unified league.

The PHF is home to seven teams: the Boston Pride, the Buffalo Beauts, the Connecticut Whale, the Metropolitan Riveters, the Minnesota Whitecaps, La Force de Montréal, and the Toronto Six.