BABSTOCK’S LATE GOAL LEADS GOLD TO WIN OVER BLUE AT U22 CAMP

CALGARY, Alta. – Kelly Babstock (Port Credit, Ont./Quinnipiac University, ECAC) scored the game-winning goal with 7:18 to go, breaking open a 2-2 game and leading Gold to a 4-2 win over Blue in the opening intrasquad game at Canada’s National Women’s Under-22/Development Team selection camp on Monday night.

Babcock’s goal, along with the late insurance marker from Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont./Toronto, PWHL), capped off a back-and-forth game in which each team scored twice in quick succession early in the second period.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, one in which Gold held a 10-4 advantage in shots thanks in large part to five power plays – including a 43-second five-on-three advantage – Gold struck quickly in the second period.

Jillian Saulnier (Halifax, N.S./Cornell University, ECAC) got the scoring started with a power play goal at 3:42, followed by the 2-0 goal from Saige Pacholok (Edmonton, Alta./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) just 21 seconds later.

Undaunted, Blue came back with two quick ones of its own – Shannon MacAulay (Mount Herbert, P.E.I./Warner School, JWHL) cut the lead in half 69 seconds after Pacholok’s goal, and Sarah Lefort (Ormstown, Que./Stanstead College, NAPHA) tied the game 1:50 after that.

The goaltenders took over after that, with Gold’s Roxanne Douville (Beloeil, Que./University of Vermont, HE) and Blue’s Erica Howe (Orleans, Ont./Clarkson University, ECAC) both making a number of big saves to keep the game tied before Babstock’s winner.

Douville finished with 17 saves in the win, while Howe stopped 25 of 29 in a losing effort.

The teams will enjoy an off day Tuesday before returning to the ice at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex on Wednesday night (7 p.m. MT) for the second of three games.