Buffalo Beauts
The Buffalo Beauts were a professional women's ice hockey team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area of New York that competed in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) from its founding in 2015 until the league's rebranding to the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) in 2021, after which the franchise was dissolved in 2023 amid the PHF's acquisition and operational shutdown.[1][2] The team played home games primarily at facilities such as LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo and later Northtown Center in nearby Amherst.[3][4] As one of the NWHL's four inaugural franchises, the Beauts quickly established themselves as contenders, advancing to the Isobel Cup playoffs in their debut season and reaching the finals in the league's first four campaigns.[1] Their most significant achievement came in the 2016–17 season, when they defeated the defending champion Boston Pride 3–2 in the finals to claim the Isobel Cup, marking the first championship for a team other than the Pride.[5] Led by players such as captain Emily Pfalzer and goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, the victory highlighted the team's resilience and contributed to growing visibility for professional women's hockey in North America.[6]Origins and Formation
Inception as NWHL Charter Franchise
The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), the first North American professional women's ice hockey league to pay player salaries, announced its four charter franchises in spring 2015, including the Buffalo Beauts to represent the Buffalo market.[7][8] The league operated initially as a single-entity structure, with the NWHL owning and managing all teams, including roster construction via an inaugural draft held on August 18, 2015.[9][10] Buffalo's selection leveraged the city's hockey infrastructure, particularly the HarborCenter facility, which hosted the team's home games and was later tied to NHL-affiliated ownership.[8] The Beauts' inaugural home game occurred on October 11, 2015, against the New York Riveters at HarborCenter, marking the league's season opener and drawing attention to women's professional hockey's nascent professionalization efforts.[8][1] Buffalo was also designated to host the NWHL's first All-Star Game in January 2016, underscoring the franchise's early prominence within the four-team circuit alongside the Boston Pride, Connecticut Whale, and New York Riveters.[8] The team's roster blended Olympians, collegiate standouts, and local talent, assembled under league oversight to launch operations with a focus on competitive play and fan engagement in a shortened inaugural schedule of four games per team.[11]Initial Ownership and Facilities
The Buffalo Beauts were established in 2015 as one of the National Women's Hockey League's (NWHL) four charter franchises, alongside the Boston Pride, Connecticut Whale, and New York Riveters, with initial ownership controlled by the league's investor group under a single-entity model. This structure centralized operations for the founding teams to support the league's inaugural season amid limited independent investment opportunities in professional women's hockey at the time.[12][13] The team's home games were held at Harborcenter, a downtown Buffalo facility featuring two regulation ice rinks, which was announced as the venue in April 2015 and hosted the Beauts' first contest on October 11 against the Boston Pride before an attendance of approximately 1,800.[14][15] Harborcenter, completed in late 2014 as part of a mixed-use development including hotel and training spaces, offered the Beauts access to shared professional amenities, though the league's early financial constraints limited dedicated resources like full-time locker rooms.[14] This setup aligned with the NWHL's modest startup phase, prioritizing on-ice play over expansive infrastructure.[15]Early Seasons and Championship Success
Inaugural 2015-16 Campaign
The Buffalo Beauts commenced their inaugural campaign in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) on October 11, 2015, hosting the New York Riveters at Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York, in a 3-2 overtime loss that drew over 1,000 spectators.[16] The team, coached by Ric Boland, featured a roster blending local talent with national team-caliber players, including forward Meghan Duggan, who was the final player signed to an NWHL contract on September 26, 2015.[17] Home games were played at the 1,800-seat Northland Ice Center rink within Harborcenter, owned by the Pegula family, who also held the franchise rights.[18] The Beauts struggled early, going winless in their first four games before securing their initial victory on November 1, 2015, with a 3-1 road win against the Riveters, highlighted by goals from Kelley Steadman and others.[16] Over the 18-game regular season, Buffalo compiled a record of 5 wins, 9 regulation losses, and 4 overtime losses, totaling 14 points and finishing third in the four-team league behind the Boston Pride (16-2-0, 32 points) and Connecticut Whale (7-7-4, 18 points).[19] The team scored 57 goals while allowing 69, with Steadman leading the offense with 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 17 games, followed by defender Megan Bozek (10 points) and Duggan (10 points in 15 games).[20] Goaltender Brianne McLaughlin anchored the net, posting a 2.89 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 12 appearances.[21] In the playoffs, the Beauts upset the second-seeded Whale in a best-of-three semifinal series, winning 2-1 with victories in Games 1 and 3, propelled by strong defensive play and timely scoring from forwards like Steadman.[22] Advancing to the inaugural Isobel Cup Final against the undefeated Pride, Buffalo was swept 2-0, falling 3-1 in Game 1 on March 11, 2016, and 3-0 in Game 2 on March 12, despite outshooting Boston in the finale.[23] The finals showcased the league's competitive depth, with Buffalo's run exceeding regular-season expectations and drawing national attention to women's professional hockey.[16]2016-17 Isobel Cup Victory
![Brianne McLaughlin hoisting the 2017 Isobel Cup][float-right] The Buffalo Beauts entered the 2016-17 NWHL season amid league-wide labor disputes that shortened the schedule to 17 games for the team, finishing with a regular season record of 6 wins, 10 losses, and 1 overtime loss, accumulating 13 points and securing third place among the four teams.[18] Despite a negative goal differential of -24 (44 goals for, 68 against), the Beauts demonstrated resilience, particularly in goaltending and defensive play, setting the stage for an improbable playoff run.[18] In the single-game semifinals on March 17, 2017, at the Barnabas Health Hockey Center in Newark, New Jersey, the third-seeded Beauts faced the second-seeded New York Riveters. Buffalo pulled off a 4-2 upset victory, outscoring their opponents despite being outshot 36-12, with timely goals from key contributors including Megan Bozek and strong goaltending anchoring the win.[24] [25] This advanced them to the Isobel Cup Final against the top-seeded and defending champion Boston Pride, who had defeated the fourth-seeded Connecticut Whale in the other semifinal. The championship game took place on March 19, 2017, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Beauts defeated the Pride 3-2, clinching their first Isobel Cup title in a defensive battle highlighted by goaltender Brianne McLaughlin's performance of 60 saves on 62 shots.[26] [27] McLaughlin was named the playoff MVP for her efforts, underscoring the underdog team's reliance on elite netminding to overcome the favored Pride, who had swept Buffalo in the inaugural 2016 final.[27] The victory marked Buffalo's first professional sports championship since 1960, ending a long drought for the city.[27]Mid-Period Challenges and Transitions
Ownership Relinquishment by Pegula Family
Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE), owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, acquired the Buffalo Beauts on December 21, 2017, marking the first instance of private ownership for a franchise in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).[28] Under PSE's operation, the team benefited from enhanced resources, including access to facilities affiliated with the Pegulas' other properties, such as the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and NFL's Buffalo Bills, which improved attendance and player facilities compared to league-operated teams.[29] On May 8, 2019, PSE announced it was severing its relationship with the NWHL and relinquishing operational control of the Beauts, effectively handing the franchise back to the league.[30][31] Kim Pegula, who had directly overseen the team's management, cited the decision as a strategic choice amid broader portfolio considerations, though no explicit financial losses or disputes with the league were detailed in the announcement.[32] The relinquishment required the NWHL to immediately reassume all operational responsibilities, including renegotiating facility usage agreements for Harborcenter, where the Beauts had played home games under PSE's leverage.[33] The move highlighted underlying financial pressures in women's professional hockey, as PSE's involvement had subsidized operations that the NWHL's centralized model struggled to replicate league-wide, with reports indicating the Pegulas had invested significantly in player salaries and marketing during their tenure.[32] NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan stated the league was prepared to maintain the team's viability, but the transition exposed vulnerabilities in franchise sustainability without major-market private investment.[31] No sale occurred; instead, the Pegulas fully withdrew, ending their direct involvement in the NWHL after approximately 17 months of ownership.[30]Impact of Player Boycott and League Rebranding to PHF
The 2019 player boycott, initiated by approximately 140 elite women's hockey players under the #ForTheGame movement following the collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League, severely disrupted the Buffalo Beauts' roster continuity. The team lost several key contributors, including goaltender Shannon Szabados, league MVP Maddie Elia, Defensive Player of the Year Blake Bolden, and forwards Hayley Scamurra and Emily Janiga, who opted to join the newly formed Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association (PWHPA) to advocate for improved salaries, marketing, and facilities. Only two players from the prior season's 11-4-1 roster, Corinne Buie and Taylor Accursi, returned, necessitating a near-total rebuild focused on recruiting from NCAA Division I, II, and III programs. This talent exodus, compounded by the Pegula family's relinquishment of ownership and the loss of HarborCenter as a home venue, forced the Beauts to relocate to the Northtown Center and hire new general manager Mandy Cronin and coach Peter Parram to emphasize a "Buffalo brand of hockey" with emerging rookies like Slovakian imports Lenka Curmova and Iveta Klimasova.[34][35] The boycott's effects extended into the 2019-20 NWHL season, marking it as the league's most controversial due to perceptions of replacement players as "scabs" by boycotting athletes, which strained team morale and public perception despite opportunities for lesser-known talents to gain visibility. For the Beauts, the rebuilt squad struggled with diminished star power and depth, contributing to inconsistent results amid a shortened season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic; the team finished with a 3-3-2 record before the campaign was suspended. League-wide responses included expanding to 24 games, securing Twitch streaming, and implementing a 50% revenue share model that raised average salaries to around $15,000, but these measures did little to immediately restore the Beauts' competitive edge or fan engagement in Buffalo, where the absence of top players highlighted ongoing structural vulnerabilities in professional women's hockey.[35][34] In response to persistent challenges from the boycott era and player demands, the NWHL rebranded as the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) on September 7, 2021, aiming to project greater professionalism through independent team ownership, a doubled salary cap of $300,000 per team, and enhanced sponsorships. For the Beauts, the transition brought modest operational improvements, such as marquee events like the Buffalo Believes Classic outdoor game to boost visibility, but on-ice performance remained hampered by defensive lapses, goaltending inconsistencies, and offensive droughts; the 2021-22 season yielded frustratingly uneven results with poor support for goaltender Carly Jackson, while the 2022-23 campaign exposed widespread deficiencies leading to a last-place finish. These struggles underscored that while the rebranding addressed some financial incentives, it failed to fully mitigate the talent fragmentation from the boycott or reverse the Beauts' mid-period decline in competitiveness and local appeal.[36][37][38]Final Years and Dissolution
2020-23 Performance Struggles
The 2020–21 season was severely curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Buffalo Beauts limited to just six games under the league's bubble format in Lake Placid, New York, where they posted a 1–4–1 record, earning three points and finishing fifth out of six teams, missing the playoffs entirely.[39] Defensive lapses and an inability to generate consistent offense marked their play, as they managed only 11 goals while conceding 24 in the short schedule.[40] In 2021–22, the Beauts expanded to a full 20-game schedule but struggled with inconsistency, finishing with a 6–14–0–0 record for 15 points, placing sixth and qualifying for the playoffs only to lose in the first round to the top-seeded Boston Pride.[41] Their defense was particularly porous, allowing 73 goals against while scoring 44, with goaltender Carly Jackson facing inadequate support that led to frustrating variability in performance, including heavy losses interspersed with occasional competitive efforts.[37] The 2022–23 campaign represented the nadir, as the Beauts compiled a 5–16–3 record over 24 games, accumulating 18 points and finishing last in the seven-team league, failing to reach the postseason for the third consecutive year.[42] They surrendered a league-worst 95 goals while scoring 65, enduring four shutouts and exhibiting widespread deficiencies in offense, defense, and goaltending stability, with no discernible pattern to their defeats—ranging from close contests to lopsided blowouts.[38] Roster disruptions, including multiple player releases, further hampered team cohesion and contributed to erratic results.[43] Across these seasons, the Beauts' on-ice woes reflected deeper challenges in talent retention and development following the league's rebranding to PHF and the 2020 player boycott, resulting in win percentages below 30% and an inability to compete effectively against stronger rivals like the Pride and Minnesota Whitecaps.[44]PHF Acquisition and Team Folding in 2023
In June 2023, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) faced a pivotal shift when a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, alongside Billie Jean King Enterprises and other investors, acquired the league's assets.[45] [46] This transaction, announced on June 29, 2023, resulted in the immediate termination of all PHF player contracts and the cessation of league operations, with players receiving severance pay equivalent to their full-season salaries plus extended health benefits through the end of 2023.[46] The acquisition was framed as a step toward unifying professional women's hockey, facilitating the transition of talent to the newly formed Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), which absorbed many PHF players but operated under a distinct structure without retaining PHF franchises.[45] The Buffalo Beauts, as one of the PHF's seven teams, were effectively dissolved in the process, marking the end of the franchise after eight seasons since its founding in 2015.[2] Ownership of the Beauts, which had been under independent control following prior transitions, was not preserved or transferred; the team's operations ceased without revival by the acquiring group.[47] Key players, including forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis who had signed a record $80,000 contract for the 2022-23 season, became free agents and pursued opportunities elsewhere, with several joining PWHL rosters.[48] Buffalo was not selected as one of the PWHL's initial six franchise cities—Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto—leaving the region without a professional women's hockey team in the new league.[49] The folding reflected broader challenges in the PHF, including financial instability and player demands for better compensation and governance, which had prompted the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) boycott in prior years.[46] While the acquisition provided short-term player support, it prioritized a centralized PWHL model over sustaining legacy teams like the Beauts, whose home games at LECOM Harborcenter had drawn modest but dedicated local crowds.[2] No independent efforts to resurrect the Beauts under a separate entity materialized in 2023, solidifying the franchise's defunct status.[50]Competitive Records
Season-by-Season Results
The Buffalo Beauts participated in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) from the 2015–16 season through the 2019–20 season, followed by the rebranded Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) from 2021–22 until the team's dissolution after the 2022–23 season.[18] Their performance varied significantly, with early postseason success despite inconsistent regular-season finishes, peaking in a 2016–17 championship, before declining in later years amid league-wide challenges including shortened schedules and roster instability.[18][26]| Season | League | Regular Season Record (W-L-OTL) | Points | Goals For–Against | Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | NWHL | 5–9–4 | 14 | 56–69 | Lost Isobel Cup Finals to Boston Pride, 0–2[18][5] |
| 2016–17 | NWHL | 6–10–1 | 13 | 44–68 | Won Isobel Cup over Boston Pride, 3–2[18][26][5] |
| 2017–18 | NWHL | 12–4–0 | 24 | 51–41 | Lost Isobel Cup Finals to Metropolitan Riveters, 0–1[18] |
| 2018–19 | NWHL | 11–4–1 | 23 | 57–25 | Lost Isobel Cup Finals to Minnesota Whitecaps, 1–2 (OT)[18][51] |
| 2019–20 | NWHL | 8–15–1 | 17 | 71–116 | Lost play-in game[18][38] |
| 2020–21* | NWHL | 1–4–1 | 3 | 7–24 | Did not qualify (shortened season)[18] |
| 2021–22 | PHF | 6–14–0 | 12 | 44–73 | Lost First Round[18][37] |
| 2022–23 | PHF | 5–16–3 | 18 | 50–95 | Did not qualify[18][38] |
Draft History and Player Acquisition
The Buffalo Beauts' draft history began with the inaugural National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) Draft on June 20, 2015, which targeted college juniors eligible for professional play upon graduation. The team held the fourth overall pick, selecting University of Wisconsin defenseman Courtney Burke in the first round.[52] In the second round, they chose Boston University forward Sarah Lefort eighth overall.[53] Additional selections included goaltender Amanda Leveille (12th overall, third round, from Minnesota Duluth) and forward Emily Janiga (16th overall, fourth round, from Mercyhurst).[10] These picks formed a core of early roster talent, though not all drafted players joined the Beauts immediately due to ongoing college commitments.| Year | Round | Overall Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 4 | Courtney Burke | D | Wisconsin |
| 2015 | 2 | 8 | Sarah Lefort | F | Boston University |
| 2015 | 3 | 12 | Amanda Leveille | G | Minnesota Duluth |
| 2015 | 4 | 16 | Emily Janiga | F | Mercyhurst |
Personnel and Operations
Notable Players and Roster Highlights
The Buffalo Beauts' roster featured a mix of American and Canadian players, with several achieving franchise milestones in scoring and leadership during the team's tenure from 2015 to 2023. Taylor Accursi holds the all-time regular season points lead with 53 points (29 goals, 24 assists) in 66 games, including a franchise-record 29 goals and a four-goal performance in an outdoor game.[66][67] Corinne Buie ranks second in points with 42 (22 goals, 20 assists) over 72 games and served as captain for two seasons.[66][67]| Player | Position | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Accursi | F | 66 | 29 | 24 | 53 |
| Corinne Buie | F | 72 | 22 | 20 | 42 |
| Kourtney Kunichika | F | 50 | 15 | 27 | 42 |
| Hayley Scamurra | F | 31 | 18 | 17 | 35 |
| Maddie Elia | F | 30 | 17 | 16 | 33 |
Coaches, Captains, and Management
The Buffalo Beauts employed multiple head coaches during their eight-season existence from 2015 to 2023. Ric Seiling and Shelley Looney served as co-head coaches for the inaugural 2015–16 campaign, with Looney bringing Olympic experience as a two-time U.S. national team member.[71] [72] Seiling continued in the role, partnering with Craig Muni as co-head coaches from 2016 to 2018, during which the team captured its lone Isobel Cup championship in 2017.[11] Cody McCormick, a former NHL player, took over as sole head coach for the 2018–19 season.[73] Pete Perram led the team from 2019 to 2021, guiding it to a runner-up finish in the 2020 Isobel Cup prior to the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions.[74] Rhea Coad succeeded Perram in March 2021 and remained through the franchise's dissolution in June 2023, overseeing the 2022–23 season amid ongoing performance challenges.[75]| Season | Captain(s) |
|---|---|
| 2015–17 | Emily Pfalzer |
| 2017–20 | Corinne Buie |
| 2020–21 | Taylor Accursi |
| 2021–22 | Marie-Jo Pelletier |
| 2022–23 | Dominique Kremer (with alternates Cassidy MacPherson and Lauren Baehlo) |