Connecticut’s Kennedy Marchment finished the regular season with a team-leading 17 goals and 18 assists.
By Paul Krotz
PHF Communications
Kennedy Marchment is the Premier Hockey Federation’s reigning most valuable player and is making a strong case for consideration once again.
The Connecticut Whale forward is red hot at the most important time of the year with a record point-streak that’s also helped her team finish third in the PHF.
She has at least a point in a league-record 18 consecutive games while the Whale who finished the season with six straight wins. Connecticut will face Toronto in a best-of-3 semifinal series beginning Friday afternoon.
“It’s nice to be able to contribute in the way that I’m supposed to and perform to my role,” Marchment said. “These past couple of weeks the Whale as a whole have been really good. I wouldn’t say we had the best start that we wanted but I think we’re hitting our stride right now which is really good heading into playoffs. It’s really exciting for my personal success, but I think more importantly it’s really good for Connecticut going into the final stretch.”
She finished with a team-leading 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points, second in the league to Boston’s Loren Gabel, who had 40 points with 20 goals and 20 assists for the Pride.
Marchment has been held off the scoresheet just three times this year. On Dec. 18, her three-point effort against Boston launched the active streak that’s now generated 30 of her 35 total points. It’s hard to imagine the pressure of performing so consistently not weighing on her game, but she’s taken it all in stride.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a superstitious person and I don’t have too many routines or rituals,” she said. “I try not to think about it too much because I think the more you think about it the harder it is to forget about it while you’re playing. I just try and take each game and each shift as an individual thing and try not to think too much about it. I think that’s what helps me in the long run.”
Even with a team-first mindset, the significance of the achievement is not lost on the 26-year-old All-Star from Marmora, Ontario who has now crushed the PHF’s previous single season point-streak record of 13 games set by Riveters captain Madison Packer in 2019-20.
“It’s really cool to have that long of a point-streak and I’m happy with it of course, but at the end of the day I just try and think about the team and where we’re going,” Marchment said.
A year ago, Marchment won the MVP award with 33 points. With 35 points this season, she set a new single-season record for Connecticut.
Marchment notes the similarities in her year-to-year offensive success but is most proud of how she’s rounded out her game.
“I’m playing with Taylor Girard again this season which is awesome since we really know each other and play well together, and that plays a lot into my success,” she said. “Compared to last season I’ve done more focusing on my play without the puck working with our assistant coach Jeff (Devenney) and our video coach (Jack Han) and of course Colton (Orr). My play without the puck has been most beneficial. That, and building chemistry with some new players this year has also been really good on and off the ice with different linemates. Taylor and I continue building chemistry but we’ve played together for a while now so whoever else is on our line on any given day has been really important.”
Girard has 28 points in 23 games which has also exceeded her first season point total that earned Newcomer of the Year accolades. Caitrin Lonergan and Justine Reyes are next among the team’s top scorers, producing in their first PHF seasons large in part when matched with the Whale’s dynamic duo.
