The First of May has brought fans of the Premier Hockey Federation to the edge of their seats. It was the first day of PHF Free Agency. Just after the season ended, there was an exciting announcement for any PHF fan. Changes were coming to player contracts. Not just changes in the salary cap, which everyone has been excited to see, but even more exciting news was coming out for the league.
Exciting Contract News
As reported by Melissa Burgess in mid-April, some exciting changes were coming for the league. The announced salary cap increase to $750,000 was coming. Even more exciting was the news of two-year deals being made available for teams to use. The ability to lock up a player for two seasons is a great new benefit with PHF contracts. The benefits package being extended to players, and their families, is nothing to scoff at. Players will now have full medical, dental, and vision benefits with premiums paid 100% and no deductible, and they can add spouses and children to the plan. Finally, the bonus for winning a championship have increased by 250%, from $500 a player to $1250 a player.
Has Anyone Re-Signed?
On the second day of free agency, we saw one announcement of a signing. Who was the lucky player? That would be Fargo, ND native Dominique Kremer. Not only was she the first signing announced this offseason, she is also the first announced player to sign the new option of a two-year contract.
SIGNING NEWS: 📣 @PHF top goal-scoring blueliner Dominique Kremer returns to the #Beauts for two more seasons. Welcome back, Dom!
— Buffalo Beauts (@BuffaloBeauts) May 2, 2022
📝: https://t.co/FMdXe85kQj#PHF #FortBeaut
📸: @mikehetzelphoto
🖼: @jsantalucia96 pic.twitter.com/lfH08H6FM0
The 24-year-old right-handed defender will begin her third PHF campaign in the 2022-2023 season. Her sophmore campaign was her best PHF season to date. In 20 regular season games, she scored six goals and had five assists for a total of 11 points on the season. Though the Beauts were eliminated from the Isobel Cup playoffs on Friday, they put forth quite the effort in their matchup. Kremer even sent a message out to Beauts nation post-signing to express her excitement for the return to Buffalo.
#Beauts defender Dominque Kremer is excited to be back at #FortBeaut for TWO. MORE. SEASONS. 🔥
— Buffalo Beauts (@BuffaloBeauts) May 2, 2022
Dom just wanted to say hi to all of our fans! #PHF @PHF @BuffaloBeauts pic.twitter.com/YiIosNVXL4
Free Agency is Only Beginning
As free agency begins to wrap up, it will be an exciting time to see what players will be returning to their teams. It will be exciting to see what college free agents are signed to play their first season of professional hockey. Finally, we cannot wait to see what players decide to test the market with a move to a new franchise.
So, women’s hockey fans, who do you think the next signing will be?
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of the PHF and women’s sports. Beth Bolger is available on Twitter and you can follow her there.
