2013 Esso Cup

Edmonton Thunder (PAC) 4 - Metro Boston Pizza (ATL) 1

Edmonton remains undefeated; Boucher breaks Esso Cup record

by Alexa Dziubenko

BURNABY, B.C. – Halifax Metro (Atlantic) faced off against Edmonton (Pacific) for a tense first encounter Monday at the Esso Cup. Coming off a loss yesterday against North Bay (Ontario), Metro Halifax was looking for its first win. But Edmonton dominated in the end, clinching its second win of the tournament with a 4-1 final score.

Metro Halifax Boston Pizza fared well against four-time Esso Cup returnees the Edmonton Thunder, with some remarkable offensive plays, particularly from Breanne Lanceleve (Sackville, N.S.), and impeccable goaltending from Halifax player of the game Katherine Purchase (Halifax, N.S.).

The first period opened strongly, with Edmonton stealing possession from Metro Halifax for a quick goal by Amy Boucher (Edmonton, Alta.) just 13 seconds into the game, assisted by Mikaeli Cavell (Edmonton, Alta.). As a result, Boucher now has the third fastest goal off the first face off in Esso Cup history.

 Boucher jokingly said after the game that teammate Cavell, who scored within the first minute of Sunday’s game, urged the Thunder to do it again Monday. “(She) saw the open net and shot it … and it (was) our plan to do it again.”

Purchase remained confident between the posts for Metro Halifax, but continued to be challenged by Edmonton’s strong offence, reluctantly surrendering another goal at the six-minute mark to Taylor Hughson (Edmonton, Alta.), assisted by Brett Campbell (Edmonton, Alta.).

Halifax Metro fought hard to gain momentum during the first period, with feisty team captain Lanceleve feeding her teammates multiple scoring opportunities, and setting an example for her teammates to match the speed of the Edmonton Thunder.

Two goals down at the start of the second, a rejuvenated Metro Halifax took the ice, eager to put one in the back of the net. But Edmonton persisted to challenging Purchase, who was still calm and in control under the immense pressure.

Edmonton head coach Cassea Schols said after the game that the Edmonton Thunder, “use (their) speed because it is one of their main attributes as a team.”

Laura Polak (Bedford, N.S.) got Metro Halifax on the board at 15:24 in the second, scoring on a breakaway, and assisted by captain Lanceleve, to make it 2-1 after 40 minutes. The goal, combined with a penalty against Sydney Thomlison (Edmonton, Alt.), seemed to give Metro Halifax the momentum it had been looking for since the game’s start.  But a determined Edmonton squad killed off the penalty and managed to maintain its lead.

With only one goal separating the two teams at the start of the third period, both teams ferociously attacked the ice. Edmonton took control, however, with Cavell again assisting Boucher at 6:15 to cement a two-goal lead. It also marked Boucher’s fourth goal in two games.

Both teams continued to challenge each other’s strong defensive units, but neither goalie was willing to surrender a goal. That is, until the last minute of play, when Nicole Gorda (Edmonton, Alta.) scored on an empty Halifax Metro net, making the final score at 4-1.

Undefeated Edmonton Thunder takes on also  undefeated North Bay (Ontario) on Tuesday, April 23 at 4 p.m. PT, while Halifax Metro next hits the ice against LHFDQ Nord (Quebec) at 12 p.m. PT tomorrow. Follow Twitter live during the game at @HC_EssoCup, or watch live for free on FASTHockey by visiting www.hockeycanada.fasthockey.com.


Game Information/Renseignements sur le match
Game #/No. de match 5
Round/Ronde Preliminary
Arena/Aréna Bill Copeland Sports Centre
Location/Lieu Burnaby, B.C.
Date Mon. Apr. 22, 2013
Time/Heure 4:00 p.m. PT

 

Box Score/Compte 1 2 3 Total
PAC
2 0 2 4
ATL 0 1 0 1

 

Goals & Penalties/Buts et pénalités
First Period/Première période
Goals/Buts :
00:14 PAC Amy Boucher (Mikaeli Cavell)
06:08 PAC Taylor Hughson (Brett Campbell) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénaltés :
01:48 PAC Brett Campbell (Hooking/Accrocher)             
04:09 ATL Lisa MacLean (Hooking/Accrocher)
0
9:12 ATL Victoria MacIntosh (Roughing/Rudesse)
16:52 ATL Breanna Lanceleve (Slashing/Coup de bâton)           
Second Period/Deuxième période
Goals/Buts :
15:24 ATL Laura Polak (Breanna Lanceleve)

Penalties/Pénaltés :
04:42 ATL Kenzie MacPhee (Hooking/Accrocher) 
17:01 PAC Sydney Thomlison (Hooking/Accrocher) 
Third Period/Troisième période
Goals/Buts :
06:15 PAC Amy Boucher (Mikaeli Cavell)
19:46 PAC Nicole Gorda EN/FD

Penalties/Pénaltés :
18:49 ATL Victoria MacIntosh (Roughing/Rudesse)
19:58 ATL Emma Wang (Cross-checking/Double-échec)          

 

Goaltenders/Gardiennes de but
PAC Tracie Kikuchi
ATL Katherine Purchase

 

Shots on Goal/Tirs au but 1 2 3 Total
PAC 18 11 7 36
ATL 5 9 8 22

 

Players of the Game/Joueurse du match
PAC Alexandra Poznikoff
ATL Katherine Purchase
Scoreboard
Thursday, April 25, 2013
12:00 p.m. PT
PAC 3 - QUE 2
Preliminary
4:00 p.m. PT
ATL 1 - WST 2
Preliminary
7:30 p.m. PT ONT 1 - HST 0
Preliminary
Friday, April 26, 2013
2:00 p.m. PT
QUE 6 - WST 3 Semifinal
8:00 p.m. PT
ONT 5 - PAC 1 Semifinal
Saturday, April 27, 2013
2:00 p.m. PT
WST  0 - PAC 1
Bronze Medal
6:00 p.m. PT
ONT 2 - QUE 5
Gold Medal



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