PHF NAMES KACEY BELLAMY SCOUT AND PLAYER RELATIONS LIAISON

2018 Olympic Gold Medalist and Pillar of U.S. Women’s National Team Returns to PHF

BOSTON, MA (May 11, 2022) – The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) today announced that commissioner Reagan Carey has added another hockey legend to the PHF staff by appointing Kacey Bellamy to the role of Scout and Player Relations Liaison. Bellamy was an instrumental leader in helping the U.S. Women’s National Team achieve unprecedented success including winning gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and earning eight gold medals in nine appearances at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. A program backbone until her retirement in May 2021, Bellamy will continue her lifelong efforts to grow the game in this new position.

“Kacey Bellamy is a proven leader, unwavering teammate, a fierce competitor, and her exceptional work ethic, wealth of knowledge, and ‘golden’ experience as an Olympic and World champion will only serve to benefit the PHF,” said Carey. “Over the course of her playing career she brought a steady sense of honor and respect to every Olympic and national team challenge both on and off the ice, and I know she will carry that same integrity, poise, and passion into this new role to help drive the PHF mission of being the best home for professional women’s hockey.”

Bellamy will be responsible for harnessing in-depth knowledge of both the PHF and NCAA player pool and tasked with matters related to depth charts, communication plans with prospects, and annual projections. She will assist Carey and Lisa Haley, PHF Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, in active communication and relationship building with NCAA and U SPORTS coaches while serving as an additional resource for graduating elite amateur athletes aspiring for careers at the next level.

“Women’s hockey has gained a lot of momentum over the last few years, and I am excited and motivated to help grow it to its full potential with the PHF,” said Bellamy. “Commissioner Reagan Carey has given me a remarkable opportunity to not only continue to grow the sport at the youth level with my commitments at Maples Crossing, but at the professional level as well with the PHF. She brings in the right people who share the same vision and passion for success, and I’m honored to be teammates once again because I’ve seen firsthand how her leadership influences positive change and action.”

Over a 15-year period, Bellamy was a defensive cornerstone of USA Hockey teams highlighted by three Olympic Winter Games where she captured silver medals in 2010 and 2014, and a pinnacle gold in 2018 serving as an alternate captain. Her nine IIHF World Championship appearances included eight gold medals in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and silver in 2012. She also wore the red, white, and blue 13 times at Four Nations Cup events with seven resulting in gold. The former University of New Hampshire Wildcat graduated in 2009 with four straight Hockey East titles to her credit, earning All-American and conference MVP honors her senior year. She embarked on a professional career in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) playing five years with the Boston Blades and winning two Clarkson Cup titles in 2013 and 2015 and another in 2019 with the Calgary Inferno. In between, she skated two seasons with the PHF’s Boston Pride where she was a two-time All-Star recording 23 points in 30 total games and won the first Isobel Cup in 2016. That season Bellamy also served as an assistant coach at Merrimack College during the inaugural season for the Warriors’ women’s hockey program.

“Kacey was a fierce competitor representing Team USA in the Olympics and even coached college hockey while we were teammates with the Boston Pride during the team’s first two seasons,” said Jillian Dempsey, captain of the Boston Pride. “Her extensive background and experience as an elite women’s hockey player and coach will serve her well in this exciting new role.”

Bellamy is currently pursuing an MBA in Entrepreneurship remotely at DeVry University and is the Director of Athletic Development for Maples Crossing which is a 75-acre wellness, fitness, and entertainment campus in New England. The Westfield, MA native takes the lessons she learned throughout her career and tries to instill them in kids at a young age so they are more prepared for the future. She is also well-versed in sharing experiences from her career through her role as a mindset coach for Women’s Hockey Life that helps athletes to be confident, strong, and better prepared for adversity, and helps athletes find their full potential as a part of Matterhorn Mentors, a mentorship program that also features Nicole Corriero, PHF Players’ Association Executive Director.

“As an incoming freshman to the inaugural season of Merrimack College, I remember being super excited knowing that I would have a past and current Olympian as my coach,” said Dominique Kremer, Buffalo Beauts defender. “Getting that ‘Olympic’ perspective from her was invaluable. She has long been a role model to little girl hockey players everywhere, including myself. Thus, I am looking forward to getting to cross paths with Kacey again now in the PHF. Having a scout with her level of hockey knowledge and expertise will hopefully help us bring more elite players into this league.”

Kremer was the first announced signing ahead of the PHF’s eighth season, coming to terms on the first two-year agreement in league history with competitive compensation and enhanced benefits. Roster building continues for the 2022-23 campaign where PHF teams will have a record $750,000 salary cap and a floor of $562,500. Bellamy is the second hire in the two weeks since Carey was announced as commissioner, joining Canadian women’s hockey icon Mel Davidson who was named Director, League and Hockey Operations. The PHF also recently hosted the first of a series of offseason virtual Town Hall meetings for prospective players with future sessions to be scheduled and to include members of the league’s expanding front office leadership.

About the Premier Hockey Federation
The PHF is the home of professional women’s hockey in North America. Established in 2015 as the National Women’s Hockey League, the NWHL rebranded to become the PHF in 2021 and provide opportunities for elite athletes to earn a living playing the game they love while fueling the continued growth of the sport. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup. For more information visit premierhockeyfederation.com.