After a venue change from Toronto to Buffalo, the PHF All-Star Showcase has arrived. The three drafted rosters have been set, the players have come to Buffalo, and the fun starts tonight. It is time to dive in and take a look at what PHF fans can expect for this exciting event in Buffalo, New York.
The Venue
Fort Beaut has had a bit of a makeover in the last few days as the city of Buffalo prepares to host the best the PHF has to offer. The tickets have been sold, the seats are ready, and the players have arrived for an exciting day of activities. The city of Buffalo and the Beauts are prepared to host the league’s best today.
The Rosters
The PHF chose 30 players to represent at the Showcase; an online fan vote chose the final three. So, how did we get three teams built for the Showcase? Well, the process is a pretty fun one. First, the three chosen captains, Shiann Darkangelo, Jillian Dempsey, and Allie Thunstrom, were randomly given a draft order. Darkangelo was first in the draft order, followed by Thunstrom, then Dempsey. Each captain was responsible for selecting one goaltender, four defenders, and six forwards from the pool of 33 players. Finally, they chose the bench boss who would represent each team. The captains also decided which jersey their squad would wear and which teams would face off first. Here is how the teams ended up.
The Schedule
At 5:30, the puck will drop for the first 2022 PHF All-Star game. The format for the games is a fun one. There will be a 10 minute period of 5-on-5 play, followed by a 5-minute session of 3-on-3 hockey, and then a shootout. The games are as follows:
- We have Team Darkangelo versus Team Thunstrom.
- The losing team of game one will face Team Dempsey.
- Team Dempsey will face off against the winner of game one.
The referees will tally up every goal scored in all three games. Finally, a winner will be chosen based on the team that scores the most goals.
All-Star Showcase Opens the Next Door
One of the best announcements before the PHF All-Star Showcase is the release of the first-ever PHF Upper Deck e-cards. The cards are available for purchase now. When you purchase a pack, you can open it immediately. These e-cards are also physical cards that will be delivered to fans worldwide. This first set of premier packs is only available for a week before they are gone forever.
On February 4, the Game Dated Moments packs will be available, featuring moments from the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase. So if you cannot see the excitement, let me try this again. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LEAGUE HISTORY, THE PHF HAS COLLECTIBLE TRADING CARDS. What a massive moment for the league and its athletes. At last, myself and PHF fans around the world are through the roof excited for this. We have the ability to have collectable memories of a league we are so passionate about. Finally, a piece of memorabilia that can be collected traded with friends, autographed, and displayed proudly in any sports store.
The festivities today are going to be exciting to watch. So, PHF fans, which team do you think will skate away as the All-Star Showcase winner? Sound off in the comments and let everybody know.
Check out 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.
