Reagan Carey, former USA Hockey women's director, named PHF commissioner

Reagan Carey is bringing her Olympic gold-medal-winning resume to lead the Premier Hockey Federation through a critical off-season of expansion and the looming threat of competing for talent with a second North American pro women's hockey league.

The PHF announced Tuesday the former head of USA Hockey's women's programs is its new commissioner heading into it eighth season. Carey replaces Tyler Tumminia, who stepped down in March after two seasons in which the former National Women's Hockey League rebranded itself and revamped its ownership model.

Carey is well-versed in the challenges women's hockey has faced in finding its footing in North America. Her eight-year stint at USA Hockey ended with the women's national team winning gold at the 2018 Winter Games.

"My area of experience and developed expertise is really growing things and doing it quickly and taking things that might need some structure and organization and focus to really drive things forward and capture some wins," Carey told The Associated Press.

"So I'm excited to know we've got a lot of things moving around here and a lot of opportunities to really continue the positive momentum the PHF put forward last season," she added. "And that's to demonstrate what we're here to do, which is to be the best league we can be."

Carey's arrival comes with the six-team PHF preparing to add two expansion franchises, one in Montreal and another in a yet-to-be announced U.S. location. The league's board of governors are also committed to increasing each team's salary cap from $300,000 to $750,000 US as part of a three-year, $25 million cash influx.

The challenge involves the PHF's ongoing rift with the Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association, which has intensified