Premier Hockey Federation Ends Season on a High Note With VISTA Worldlink Driving Isobel Cup Final Production

VISTA produced the live via its centralized live-sports-production facility just north of Miami in Dania Beach, FL.

For the first time in league history Canada owns the Premier Hockey Federation’ Isobel Cup with the Toronto Six’s win over the Minnesota Whitecaps on Sunday night. And, for the second consecutive year, the game was broadcast on ESPN2. With more eyeballs on the broadcast than ever, PHF once again teamed up with NEP’s VISTA Worldlink to deploy the league’s biggest production of the year.

“From producing the games in a bubble during COVID to now showcasing the Final on ESPN2 is incredible to see for the league,” says VISTA Worldlink Executive Producer Mike Freedman said prior to Sunday’s broadcast. “From three-camera shows during COVID on Twitch, to a 10-camera show on ESPN2, it was great to play a role in showcasing the league’s growth in such a short amount of time on the national level.”

Like all PHF regular season games this season, VISTA produced the live via its centralized live-sports-production facility just north of Miami in Dania Beach, FL. Producer Justin Cohen, Director Gage Tillotson and AD Erick Falero led the charge to produce the showcase the best of PHF to a national audience on ESPN2.

The Final served as the second chapter of a double-header with the Phoenix Coyotes game earlier in the day at Mullett Arena. Mobile TV Group provided the facilities onsite for both the Coyotes game and PHF final.

“We were able to work with their production and technical teams to put together a creative plan,” says Freedman, “that allows us to add two additional manned cameras for the Championship on Sunday”

Behind the scenes, a number of people play a major role in the PHF production operation. On the VISTA side, Steven Kravitz and Victor Bague handle the technical operations, production logistics and liase with our onsite partners at Rush Media, led by Annie Curry, Justin Cunningham and Eric Johnson.

Calling the game on ESPN2 were Joe Malfa (PxP), Alexis Pearson (Analyst), Katie Gaus (Rink Side report) and Madison Packer (Rink side analyst)

As they have throughout the season, announcers called games off monitors in booths at VISTA, with Joe Malfa as play-by-play, Alexis Pearson as analyst and Katie Gaus and Madison Parker as rink side-reporter and rink-side analyst, respectively.

“We are excited about our talent involved in the game,” says Freedman. “[In addition to] Joe Malfa and Alexis Pearsonm, we are lucky to be able to add PHF veteran Madison Packer as a rink side analyst who will give us a different set of eyes and perspective as she breaks down the game ice level with NHL host/reporter Katie Gaus.”