Jillian Dempsey of Winthrop had a goal and an assist as the Boston Pride defeated the Connecticut Whale, 4-3, Monday night in Tampa, Fla., to repeat as Isobel Cup champions of the Premier Hockey Federation.
The championship game was televised live on ESPN2.
Dempsey, the Pride captain and former Harvard star, scored the Pride’s first goal of the game in the first period, but the Whale answered with two goals to take a 2-1 lead into the third period.
The Pride responded with three goals in the third period to overtake the Whale. Evelina Raselli and Taylor Wenczkowski scored goals 18 seconds apart before Jenna Rheault scored an open-net goal on a 150-foot shot from the Pride’s defensive zone.
Pride goaltender Katie Burt of Lynn, who played as a sixth grader on the Winthrop High co-op team coached by Butch Martucci, was sensational throughout the playoffs, stopping 83 of 86 shots in three playoff victories.
Dempsey was named the player of the game and accepted the Isobel Cup Trophy from PHF Commissioner Tyler Tumminia during the presentation ceremony at center ice.
Like Mike Eruzione signaling to his USA hockey teammates to join him on the gold medal platform, Dempsey quickly carried the trophy over to her teammates who lifted the Isobel Cup triumphantly aloft together.
Dempsey is a teacher at the Cummings Elementary School.
Winthrop resident and former Northeastern star McKenna Brand was also a major contributor throughout the Pride’s championship season.