MYHockey News
Week 23 MHR Games of the Week: A Big Weekend in the PHC, CSSHL, MFHL & MMFHL
It’s Week 23 of the 2023- 24 North American hockey season, and the action is starting heat up all over the continent as more top leagues enter postseason play or continue their push toward the playoffs.
For those of you residing south of the border, we wish you a happy Hockey Week Across America!
Several North American leagues are either in the midst of their playoffs, are holding them or are starting them this weekend.
The Prep Hockey Conference (PHC), a league that includes some of the top boys 18U prep-school-based hockey programs in North American is holding its playoffs Friday through Sunday at La Brier Family Arena in Aurora, Ontario. St. Andrew’s College, the top-ranked Canadian Boys Independent Prep team in Canada, is hosting five highly ranked American teams to determine this year’s PHC champion.
Also in Canada – but a little more to the west – the Edge School of Calgary is hosting a Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) U15 showcase. While CSSHL playoffs still are a few weeks away, this showcase is a gathering of some of Western Canada’s – and Canada’s – top school-based U15 Boys programs. The showcase started Thursday with five contests featuring top-11 Western Canada matchups and continues until Sunday featuring 10 more similar top-11 contests.
On the girls’ side, postseason play in both the Manitoba Female Hockey League (MFHL) in Western Canada and the Maritime Major Female Hockey League (MMFHL) in Eastern Canada continues this weekend.
The eight-team MFHL playoffs feature five of Western Canada’s top-15 girls U18 teams, and those teams all are ranked among Canada’s top 40. Postseason play in the MFHL got underway with quarterfinal series earlier this week and continues through the weekend.
Meanwhile, over in Eastern Canada, MMFHL teams continue to play in the provincial semifinals. Last weekend, the Nova Scotia semifinals got underway, with both the Northern Selects (No. 1 Eastern Canada and No. 9 Canada) and Dartmouth Penguins (No. 8/No. 55) both taking 2-0 series leads. This weekend, the New Brunswick semis begin, while the Selects and Caps look to close out their series in Nova Scotia. The Prince Edward Island semifinals start next weekend.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s action:
The Prep Hockey Conference was created by several like-minded and nationally prominent school-based North American 18U hockey programs several years ago with the goal of becoming the premier prep hockey conference in North America. The six-team league annually features programs that compete for national championships in both the United States and Canada.
This year, the PHC includes the Nos. 1, 6 and 12 Tier 1 National Bound 18U boys’ teams in the U.S. as well as the Nos. 1, 6 and 23 teams in the overall U.S. 18U Tier 1 rankings and the top-three USA Independent Prep Boys teams. Canada’s top-ranked Independent Prep team from St. Andrew’s College also is member of the PHC and is hosting the playoffs.
The league is divided into two three-game divisions. Here are the divisions and this year’s regular-season standings:
PHC East Standings
- Northwood School – 25 pts (36-14-0 overall)
- Mount St. Charles – 14 pts (25-16-2 overall)
- South Kent School – 4pts (31-25-3 overall)
PHC West Standings
- Shattuck-St. Mary’s – 36 pts (45-2-0 overall)
- Andrew’s College – 27 pts (25-10-0 overall)
- Culver Academies – 14 pts (25-15-0 overall)
The PHC playoffs feature crossover play between the two divisions in the quarterfinals, with the first-place teams receiving byes into the semifinal round.
Friday’s PHC Quarterfinal Matchups
#12 USA Overall South Kent School (6), #1 Canada Prep St. Andrew's College (7) - OT
In a wild one that featured five third-period goals and St. Andrew's overcoming a 4-1 first-period deficit, Dean Letorneau scored the OT game-winner to cap a crazy comeback win. William Hughes, Daniil Dyachkov, Elias Greenwood and Rafael Cloutier scored in the first period to stake South Kent to a 4-1 lead, but St. Andrew's scored five of the next seven regulation goals to set up Letorneau's heroics. Aidan Lane scored two of those give goals, while Connor Arseneault, Luca Diplacido and Jack Good had the other three tallies. Good finished with a goal and four assists, with Letorneau contributing a goal and two assists, Arseneault adding a goal and an assist and Sebasitain Dell'ece dishing out a pair of helpers. Paolo Frasca was the winning goaltender.
#6 USA T1 National Bound Culver Academies (2), #12 USA T1 National Bound Mount St. Charles (1)
Culver got goals in the second period from Vince Kalscheur and in the third from Kyle Bergen to rally from a 1-0 defict and advance to the semifinals. Bergan also assisted on Kalscheur's tally, while Evan Tompkins made 24 saves to backstop the win. Ronnie Hill had the lone Mount St. Charles goal.
Saturday’s PHC Semifinal Matchups
#6 USA Overall Northwood School (3), #1 Canada Prep St. Andrew's College (2) - 2 OT
Shane Tronoski scored his first goal of the playoffs on the power play with 14:19 left in the second overtime to send Northwood to the finals after St. Andrew's rallied to send the game to extra time with a pair of goals in the final 2:25 of regulation. Rory Gilmour and Dean Letourneau tied the game and set up Tronoski's heroics. William Schneid and Ritter Coombs also scored for Northwood, and Devin Shakar made an eye-popping 50 saves to earn the hard-fought win in goal.
#1 USA T1 National Bound/Overall Shattuck-St. Mary’s (9), #6 USA T1 National Bound Culver Academies (0)
People don't always agree with the rankings, but there's no dispute which team should be No. 1 in the U.S. after this one. Shattuck scored three goals in each period and Jack Hirshorn made 16 saves as the Sabres rolled to the championship game. Seven different SSM players scored, with Nolan Caffey's two goals and one assist leading the way. Daniel Shlaine had a goal and two assists and Brady Flynn contributed a pair of assists, while Shaun Rios and Aidan Park each added a goal and an assist.
Sunday’s PHC Championship Game
#1 USA Overall Shattuck-St. Mary's (2), #6 USA Overall Northwood School (1)
It's been an amazing year for Northwood School, and they almost pulled off the upset of all upsets, but Shattuck got single goals in each of the first two periods and held off Northwood in the final frame to capture the PHC championship. The Sabres managed just one first-period goal despite outshooting Northwood, 18-3, getting a goal from Shaun Rios on the power play with 2:13 left. Aidan Park made it 2-0 with 7:10 left in the middle frame before Tanner McFaul tied it with 3:02 remaining in the period, but Shattuck goalie Jackson Silverberg stopped all 11 third-period shots he faced to secure the victory.
The CSSHL is based in Western Canada and includes many of the top Canadian school-based boys and girls AAA teams competing at the U15, U17 and U18 levels. This weekend’s U15 Showcase at the Edge School in Calgary includes nine of Western’ Canada’s top-10 u15 Boys teams and 12 of the top 16. Three participating teams are ranked among Canada’s top 10.
Games got underway Thursday and are being held at Kyle Stuart Memorial and Kyle Stuart Alumni Arenas on the campus of the Edge School.
CSSHL U15 Showcase games can be viewed on FloHockey.tv.
#7 Delta Hockey Academy Green (3), #2 Northern Alberta Xtreme (4) - OT
#6 Calgary NWCAA Flames (3), #16 Burnaby Winter Club Academy (5)
#5 Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg (3), #11 Okanagan Hockey Academy (2)
#9 Yale Hockey Academy (6), #1 Edge School (7) - SO
#10 Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna (1), #8 OHA Edmonton (2)
#6 Calgary NWCAA Flames (2), #11 Okanagan Hockey Academy (1)
#7 Delta Hockey Academy Green(3), #1 Edge School (9)
#9 Yale Hockey Academy (3), #10 Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna (6)
#3 St. George’s School (6), #2 Northern Alberta Xtreme (3)
#1 Edge School (9), #16 Burnaby Winter Club Academy (3)
#2 Northern Alberta Xtreme (6), #9 Yale Hockey Academy (1)
#3 St. George’s School (3) #5 Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg (5)
#7 Delta Hockey Academy Green (2), #8 OHA Edmonton (3)
#5 Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg (5), #9 Yale Hockey Academy (3)
#16 Burnaby Winter Club Academy (3), #11 Okanagan Hockey Academy (5)
#10 Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna (2), #2 Northern Alberta Xtreme (7)
#3 St. George’s School (5), #1 Edge School (4) - SO
After rolling to wins the first three days of the CSSHL U15 Showcase, two by identical 9-3 scores and one in a shoout, the Edge School finally got upset and lost for just the sixth time this season against 45 victories. Jack Poole was the only player to score in the shootout after seven failed attempts, and his tally gave St. George's the victory after Edge had rallied for two goals in the final 4:26 to force overtime. Luke Jamieson and Joaquin Geras scored in the waning moments to tie the game after Louis Oscar Holowaychuk had given St. George's a 4-2 lead 1:54 into the final frame. Edge took an early lead on Nathan Cole's 14th CSSHL goal of the season in the opening seven minutes, but St. George's scored the next three in the second period, with Jayan Sinha, Aaron Castro and Eddy Spytz putting them in front, 3-1. James Matheos gave Edge School some momentum heading into the final 20 minutes with his goal in the final minute of the second period. St. George's goalie Les Toth stopped 37 shots in regulation and overtime before completely shutting the door on Edge in the shootout and lifting his team to victory.
MFHL Quarterfinals
The best-of-five MFHL quarterfinals got underway earlier this week. This year the MFHL features five of Western Canada’s top-15 (and five of Canada’s top-40) Girls U18 teams.
Here is a look at the quarterfinal matchups and seedings:
#1 Winnipeg Ice (#7 Western Canada/#12 Canada) vs. #8 Central Plains Capitals (#28/#86)
#2 Westman Wildcats (#11/#25) vs. #7 Pembina Valley Hawks (#25/#82)
#3 Eastman Selects (#12/#31) vs. #6 Interlake Lightning (#22/#70)
#4 Yellowhead Chiefs (#14/#40) vs. #5 Winnipeg Avros (#8/#15)
This Week’s MFHL Playoff Schedule & Results
#1 Winnipeg Ice vs. #8 Central Plains Capitals
Game : Feb. 20 - Ice 6, Capitals 0
Annika Russell scored twice and Laura Melizza made 20 saves to earn the shutout win for Winnipeg.
Game 2: Feb. 23 - Ice 1, Capitals 0
Stephanie Jacob scored the game-winner in the third period, and Bailey Grunewald stopped 16 shots to pick up the win in goal and extend the Capitals' scoreless streak to 120 minutes. Elyse Denbow made 47 saves for Central Plains.
Game 3: Feb. 24 - Ice 3, Capitals 0
Stephanie Jacob and Izabella Mann each recorded a goal and an assist, while Annika Russell dished out a pair of assists to lead the ice to the sweep. Laura Melizza stopped 26 shots to earn the shutout.
Winnipeg Ice win the series, 3-0.
#2 Westman Wildcats vs. #7 Pembina Valley Hawks
Game 1: Feb. 21 - Wildcats 5, Hawks 3
Karlyn Gudz had two goals and an assist, while Callie Hilhorst added a goal and an assist in the Westman victory. Danica Averill made 18 saves to notch the win between the pipes.
Game 2: Feb. 23 - Wildcats 4, Hawks 3 (2OT)
Marlie Rutherford buried the game-winner in the second overtime as four different Wildcats scored in this thriller. Paige Crossley dished out a pair of assists for Warman, while Danica Averill made 32 saves.
Game 3: Feb. 25 - Wildcats 5, Hawks 2
Marlie Rutherford scored twice, with Kelsey Huibers adding a goal and two assists as Westman rolled to a three-game sweep. Ivy Perkin was the Wildcats' other multiple-point peformer, dishing out a pair of helpers, and Danica Averill made 19 saves to earn the win in goal.
Westman Wildcats win the series, 3-0.
#3 Eastman Selects vs. #6 Interlake Lightning
Game 1: Feb. 21 - Selects 3, Lightning 2
Sophia Heidinger scored twice, and Ginger Fast handed out two assists to lead Eastman in a Game 1 victory. Addison Tomes was the winning goalie with 30 saves.
Game 2: Feb. 23 - Selects 1, Lightning 0
Sophia Heidinger had the lone Selects goal, and Addison Tomes recorded the shutout with 27 saves as Eastman took a 2-0 series lead.
Game 3: Sunday, Feb. 25 - Lightning 4, Selects 3 (2OT)
Delainey Rigaux and Brooke Barylski each handed out a pair of assists, while Adriana Duna, Clarie Hudson, Georgia O'Neill and Bre-Ann Windross each netted single goals as Interlake stayed alive and closed the series gap to 2-1 in two overtimes. It was the third-straight one-goal decision of the series. Ginger Fast had a goal and two assists for Eastman, and Rachel Halldorson got the win in goal for the Lightning.
#4 Yellowhead Chiefs vs. #5 Winnipeg Avros
Game 1, Feb. 22 – Avros 4, Chiefs 3
Mia McGregor had a goal and two assists while Hannah Reagh dished out a pair of helpers in the Avros' Game 1 victory. Natalie Rampton picked up the win in goal with 25 saves.
Game 2: Feb. 24 - Avros 3, Chiefs 2 (OT)
Mackenzie Lizotte and Rio Pierre each had a goal and an assist, and Seanna Price scored Winnipeg's third goal as the Avros took a commanding series lead with a Game 2 win. Madelynne Sylvestre made 34 saves to earn the win.
Game 3 - Tuesday, Feb. 27, 9:30 p.m. EST at Shoal Lake Arena
Check back for weekend updates
CLICK HERE for full MFHL playoff results
The MMFHL U18 AAA playoffs get underway Feb. 17 with the provincial semifinals.
The first Nova Scotia semifinal features Canada’s ninth-ranked Northern Selects, who entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in Eastern Canada and Nova Scotia, taking on the Cape Breton Lynx, ranked 11th in Eastern Canada and fourth in the province. Nova Scotia Semifinal 2 pits Canada’s 50th-ranked Greenfoot Capitals (No. 7 Eastern Canada) vs. the Dartmouth Penguins, who are ranked 56th in Canada and 8th in Eastern Canada. These are best-of-five series.
The New Brunswick semifinal has the Fundy Kraken facing off against Moncton Rockets in a best-of-three series, while the PEI semifinal features the Western Wind taking on the Eastern Stars in a best-of-seven matchup. Fundy came into the playoffs ranked 99th in Canada and 20th in Eastern Canada, and Moncton waas 69th/9th. The Western Wind were 94th in Canada and 12th in Eastern Canada, while the stars were 42nd/5th.
Nova Scotia Best-of-Five Semifinal #1
#1 Northern Selects vs. #11 Cape Breton Lynx (E. Canada rankings)
Game 1: Feb. 17 - #1 Selects , Lynx 1
Brooke Williams and Kendall Doiron each recorded a hat trick, with Doiron adding a pair of assists, as the Selects rolled to the Game 1 victory. Kate Morrow and Hali-Rose MacLean added two goals apiece, while Laci Boyd contributed a goal and four helpers and Jora Burrows made 11 saves.
Game 2: Feb. 18 at Hector Arena - #1 Selects 7, #11 Lynx 0
Kendall Doiron scored twice in the opening 14 minutes for the Northern Selects, and the game was never in doubt after that. Aylee Glenn also scored twice for the Selects, with Laci Boyd, Emerson MacDonald and Karys Ross scoring the other three goals. All three of the single goal-scorers also notched an assist. Madeline Kerr stopped all 13 shots she faced to record the shutout.
Game 3: Friday, Feb. 23 - Selects 6, Lynx 0
Aylee Glenn notched two goals and an assist, while Hali-Rose MacLean added 2-1-3 and Jorja Burrows earned the shutout with 19 saves as the Selects swept the Lynx.
Northern Selects win series, 3-0
Nova Scotia Best-of-Five Semifinal #2
#7 Greenfoot Capitals vs. #8 Dartmouth Penguins (E. Canada rankings)
Game 1: Feb. 17 - Penguins 2, Capitals 1
Abalyn Lefebvre scored what turned to be the game-winning goal in the second period, and Kaitlyn Langille turned aside every shot she faced in the third period as the Penguins won Game 1 of the series. Jenna Greenwood had the other Dartmouth goal, while Claire Tolson, Georgia Stevens and Ellie Isenor picked up assists. Langille finished with 39 saves. Sarah Bush had the lone Greenfoot tally.
Game 2: Feb. 18 - Penguins 2, Capitals 0
Jenna Greenwood opened the scoring in the first period and closed it in the final frame, and that's all Dartmouth would need to recrod the victory and a 2-0 series lead. Greenwood wasn't the only star of the game, however. Cicely Harnum made 42 saves to keep her team afloat and record the shutout.
Game 3: Saturday, Feb. 24 - Penguins 2, Capitals 0
The Penguins swept the series, allowing just one goal over three games, with Kaitlyn Langille making 34 saves to record shutout. Georgia Stevens factored in on both Pens goals, finishing with a goal and an assist, and Rachel Hartnell scored the other goal.
Dartmouth Penguins win the series, 3-0.
New Brunswick Best-of-Three Semifinal
#20 Fundy Kraken vs. #9 Moncton Rockets (E. Canada rankings)
Game 1: Feb. 23 - Rockets 6, Kraken 2
Sophie Grenier and Lola Boutillier combined for seven assists, while Madison Wesselius and Kiersten MacKinnon each scored twice to lift the Rockets to a Game 1 win. Marissa Rihard and Audrey Poirier added a goal and an assist each for the winners, and Brooke O'Brien made 15 saves.
Game 2: Feb. 24 at QPlex - Rockets 5, Kraken 2 `
It was another big game for Lola Boutilier and Sophie Grenier again, with Boutilier tallying a goal and two assists and Grenier adding two goals and an assist as Moncton swept the three-game series. Kiersten MacKinnon added a goal and an assist, while Marissa Richard dished out two assists for the winners. Janelle Gallant was the winning goalie with 20 saves.
Moncton Rockets win the series, 2-0
Prince Edward Island Best-of-Seven Semifinal
#12 Western Wind vs. #5 Eastern Stars (E. Canada rankings)
Game 1 – Friday, March 1, 7:00 p.m. EST at Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre
Game 2 – Saturday, March 2, 6:40 p.m. EST at Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre
CLICK HERE for the full series schedule
