The Toronto Six have been perennial contenders throughout their short Premier Hockey Federation tenure, and the 2022-23 season is no exception.
The only difference, they hope, will be the ending. That’s something third-year forward Emma Woods is determined to change.
“Talking with some of the girls on last year’s team, we all have a chip on our shoulders,” Woods said. “We had a ton of confidence going into playoffs. Boston obviously had a great team but to get upset like that it is pretty much the only thing you remember from the previous season. Ever since the start of this program we’ve had the confidence to win the Isobel Cup and we’ve just fallen short.”
Woods is one of seven T6 players who has competed in each of the team’s first three seasons. During the shortened 2021 campaign, the expansion unit was crowned regular season champions but lost to Boston in a semi-final showdown. Toronto finished in second place a year ago, falling one point behind Connecticut in the final game of the 2021-22 season. They faced the Pride again in the semi-finals and lost to the eventual champions.
“Where we’re at with this league and a short season, every single game and series is so important in regard to the standings,” Woods said. “Between the top four it’s super close right now and I think it’s going to be tight right until the end. Every weekend for us is a big one. We’re not going to take Montreal lightly this weekend. These are two huge games for us, and we know they’re going to come out strong. It’s that time of year where you want to keep gaining momentum and building off it. We’re prepared for this weekend and it’s six points that we really need and that we really want.”
This weekend’s series between Toronto and Montreal has important implications within the standings, but also writes another chapter in the PHF’s new era that features two Canadian teams for the first time in its eight-year history. Woods, a proud Canadian herself, recognizes the significance of the moment.
“There’s definitely a little something added to it,” she said. “I think there will be a rivalry between our two teams. I think there was already something felt in our first series against them and it’s only going to grow. We like to play at our home rink where we bring a lot of energy and our fans do too. I’m sure that will just add to the rivalry and Montreal will probably feel that energy when they come into our building. It’s good…
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