Growing the Game: Loren Gabel is the PHF's MVP

Growing the Game is Ian Kennedy’s weekly feature examining the global game, how social issues impact the sport, and how hockey’s important cultural shift continues to evolve.

Loren Gabel added to her impressive trophy case this week, being voted the PHF’s most valuable player. Gabel led the PHF in scoring this year, was named the league’s newcomer of the year and was named the PHF All-Star Game MVP.

Now, the Kitchener, Ont. product can add league MVP to those accolades.

“It is an absolute honor to win the 2022-23 MVP and outstanding player of the year awards, and I am proud to be recognized by my fellow players and by the dedicated media who cover this league,” Gabel said in a league press release.

For the first time, the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) voted on the PHF’s MVP honor, with the inaugural 13 members of the PHWA’s women’s chapter casting ballots.

“Although this isn’t the first time media have voted for league awards, this is the inaugural year media have voted as members of the PHWA,” said Erica Ayala of Black Rosie Media and chair of the PHWA women’s chapter. “Loren received six first-ballot votes from our panel of 13 women’s hockey reporters and led all vote-getters with 43 points overall.”

Gabel, a former member of Canada’s senior national team and winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award as the NCAA’s top player, is signed again to play for the Boston Pride this coming season.

Canada and the USA are competing in a three-game series between their national Para ice hockey development teams this weekend in Montreal.

Canada’s roster includes five members of last year’s silver medal-winning Para Hockey Cup team but is primarily newcomers to the program.

“We are excited to have this group together and get them into game action against the United States,” said coach Russ Herrington. “This is the first time that our development team has been able to face the Americans in three years, and for many of these players, it’s their first time to represent Canada.”

The event will be used by both nations to assess players for the upcoming World Championship. Moose Jaw, Sask., will host the championship from May 28 to June 4.

Willie O'Ree and Bob Dawson, two pioneering Black hockey players, will receive honorary doctorates from Canadian universities next month.

O’Ree, born in the province, will receive his honor from the University of New Brunswick, while Dawson will be recognized by Saint Mary's University in Nova Scotia. In 1967, Dawson broke the Atlantic university color barrier when he played for Saint Mary’s, three years later joining the first all-Black line in Canadian university hockey history.

O’Ree was the first Black player to compete in the NHL when he appeared with the Boston Bruins in 1958.

"Not only is he a hockey pioneer who has spent decades working to make the sport more inclusive, but Willie O'Ree is also a community changemaker who used the joy of hockey to teach youth about inclusion and teamwork," UNB president and vice-chancellor Paul Mazerolle told the Color of Hockey blog.

Saint Mary's president Robert Summerby-Murray told Color of Hockey that honoring Dawson was an easy decision. 

"He has carried his commitment to stand up to anti-Black racism beyond the hockey arena and into the wider Canadian society," Summerby-Murray said. "He shows us what it means to be a leader and live by values that will inspire others, especially future generations."

The 2023 Esso Cup, Canada’s U-18 women’s club championship, is underway. The talent on display has been grabbing attention, not just from NCAA and U Sports scouts but from media as well.

Wednesday night, a goal by Northern Selects forward Kendall Doiron found its way into TSN’s highlight reel and went head-to-head with MLB’s Wander Franco and his one-handed grab with the Tampa Bay Rays on TSN’s 1v1 vote.

Doiron, 14, went between the legs to score on the power play in a 4-3 loss for her Northern Selects at the hands of British Columbia provincial champions, the Fraser Valley Rush.