Quebec upsets Atlantic; Belzile notches hat trick

by Alexa Dziubenko

BURNABY, B.C. – The LHFDQ Nord (Quebec) come off a win Monday night over host team Fraser Valley Phantom, and kept up that trend against Halifax Metro Boston Pizza (Atlantic) in Tuesday’s early game, creating several breakaway chances over three periods to skate to an 8-1 victory and another three points in Esso Cup standings.

In an eventful first period, Quebec scored its first three goals and goalie Fanny Vigeant (St-Hyacinthe, Que.) stopped every single shot from Halifax Metro. Both teams started strong and the pace picked up quickly, giving both goalies engaging action in front of the net. Quick stick handling by Annie MacDonald (Fall River, N.S.) and a great backhand shot by Halifax Metro player of the game Breanna Lanceleve (Sackville, N.S.) the Atlantic reps with strong scoring opportunities.

But the first goal of the game came from LHFDQ Nord player of the game Audrey Belzile (Sty-Hyacinthe, Que.) about seven minutes into the opening period by virtue of crisp passes from teammates Eve-Audrey Picard (Longueil, Que.) and Valerie Audet (St. Bruno, Que.)

Halifax Metro took a penalty that give the Quebec reps a five-on-three advantage, opening the door for Belzile to score her second of the game, assisted by Jade Downie-Landry (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.)and Jessica Bouchard (Carignan, Que.).  

Still on a power-play, Audet scored another goal at the twelve- minute mark, widening it to a 3-0 gap. A struggling Halifax Metro team took a timeout to regroup.

A power-play gave Halifax Metro the chance to gain some momentum, with some quick stick handling by team captain Lanceleve and some smart plays by Chantal Beauchamp (Bedford, N.S.) creating some great scoring chances. Lanceleve finally got Halifax Metro on the scoreboard for its lone goal of the game in the last minute of the play in the second, and while her team was shorthanded.  Her goal helped Halifax Metro end the period on a high note, with a 3-1 scoring going into intermission.

The third period opened with Halifax Metro still thirsting for its first win of the tournament, and still battling shorthanded. But the team from Quebec’s high energy sparked a scoring streak, with LHFDQ adding give more goals to the scoreboard in just 20 minutes of play.

Landry had two goals in the third, while Belzile, Andréanne Carlos (Montreal, Que.), and Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Que.) tallied one goal apiece.

Following the game, Belzile attributed LHFDQ Nord’s success partially to the hundreds of elementary school students gathered in the arena to cheer on the teams.

She said the enthusiasm they brought inside the Bill Copeland Sports Centre was “motivating.” Belzile said the Quebec squad  is “happy about “not just  her team’s performance so far at the 2013 Esso Cup, but the attention and respect the event is getting from the Burnaby community. “We are just hockey players, and (here) we feel a lot bigger than that.”

In the end, the quick skating and imaginative plays by LHFDQ Nord just couldn’t be matched by Metro Halifax, and the girls from Quebec secured their second victory of the tournament with the 8-1 final on the score sheet.

Catch more Esso Cup action when LHFDQ Nord takes on the North Bay Ice Boltz (Ontario) on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m. PT, and when Halifax Metro faces off against tournament hosts the Fraser Valley Phantom at 7:30 p.m. PT in the evening game. Watch all the action live on FASTHockey by visiting www.hockeycanada.fasthockey.com and follow the games on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/HC_EssoCup.