Premier Hockey Federation
The Premier Hockey Federation, abbreviated PHF, was a women's professional ice hockey league in the United States and Canada that operated from March 2015 until June 2023. The league was established in 2015 as the National Women's Hockey League, abbreviated NWHL, at which time it comprised four league-owned teams. Over time, some teams gained independent ownership and the number of teams grew to seven: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, Montreal Force, and Toronto Six. The Isobel Cup was the league's championship trophy and was awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The PHF ceased operations on June 29, 2023, after key elements of the league, including its intellectual properties, were purchased by the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises led by Mark Walter and Billie Jean King, respectively. Both businesses had entered a partnership with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) in May 2022, with the intent to create a new professional women's ice hockey league in North America. On August 29, 2023, the organization was announced as the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). History League beginnings and inaugural 2015–16 season The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)