ST. ALBERT, Alta. – The Notre Dame Hounds (West) have won the 2011 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, defeating the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific) 5-2 in the gold medal game Saturday night at the Performance Arena in Servus Place.

Jennifer More (Deloraine, Man.) opened the scoring in the first period and added another in the third, Courtney Jacklin (Regina, Sask.) and Olivia Howe (Moose Jaw, Sask.) both had a goal and an assist and Alyssa Threadkell (Cold Lake, Alta.) also notched one for Notre Dame en route to the win.

The Hounds took silver at the 2010 Esso Cup and are one of only two teams to make more than one appearance at Canada’s National Female Midget Championship. The Thunder have competed in the Esso Cup for three straight years, finishing fourth in 2009 in Calgary, Alta., and taking bronze at the 2010 Esso Cup in Regina, Sask. The 2011 Esso Cup marks the third annual National Female Midget Championship.

Earlier Saturday, the Toronto Aeros (Ontario) blanked the Lac St-Louis Kodiaks (Québec) 4-0 to take home the bronze medal. Victoria Andreakos (Aurora, Ont.), Caitlin Maikawa (Markham, Ont.), Jordan McDonell (Toronto, Ont.) and Lauren Wildfang (Waterdown, Ont.) all scored and Taylor Hough (Toronto, Ont.) earned the shutout.

The 2011 Esso Cup has helped the City of St. Albert celebrate its 150th anniversary by bringing together the best female Midget hockey teams from across the country. The 2012 Esso Cup will be held in Charlottetown, P.E.I.