After an improbable season, marred once again by COVID delays, the Boston Pride improbably escaped the quarterfinals, upset the Toronto Six 5-1 in the semifinals, and tonight notched a come from behind victory over the PHF’s top seed, the Connecticut Whale, winning the Isobel Cup Final 4-2 to win their second straight, and third overall, Cup title.

Unlike last year’s aborted bubble playoffs in Lake Placid, New York, these playoffs were all held within three days in Wesley Chapel, Florida. After thumping Buffalo 6-0 on 25 March, the Pride upset the Six 5-1 on 27 March, setting up the final with the #1 seed Whale. The Whale, in their first Isobel Cup final in their six years of existence, took on the Pride, winners of both the inaugural Cup in 2016 and the most recent Cup in 2021.

Despite Boston taking the early lead on a Jillian Dempsey goal, Connecticut responded with goals from Amanda Conway and Taylor Girard, while Abbie Ives shut the door on the Pride for two periods, taking a 2-1 lead into the final period. But it was a pair of tallies from Evelina Raselli and Taylor Wenczkowski, just 18 seconds apart, that stunned the Whale and suddenly propelled Boston into the lead, which they would secure for good on a Jenna Rheault empty netter with 90 seconds remaining, ensuring they would remain as PHF champions for another year.

Our congratulations go out to the players, management and fans of the Boston Pride, with those on the roster that have also held the IHLC highlighted in bold:

Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times – IIHF – HHOF – IOC