2014 Esso Cup

3 Stars of the Day

DAY 6 – FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

1. Tracie Kikuchi (G) – Edmonton
Netminder Tracie Kikuchi was key in the Edmonton Thunder’s close 2-1 win over host team the Stoney Creek Sabres on Friday, making an impressive 31 saves and coming with some seriously big stops through three periods, one overtime frame and a shootout, to help earn her team a spot in the gold medal game and a shot at the coveted Esso Cup.

2. Cassidy Pirlot (F) – Weyburn
Forward Cassidy Pirlot helped the Weyburn Gold Wings shut out the Sudbury Lady Wolves 3-0 on Friday, assisting her team’s first goal midway through the opening frame and adding a one of her own on a power play just 44 seconds into the middle frame, en route to a well-deserved 3-0 victory and a place in Saturday’s gold medal Esso Cup match-up.

3. Jessica Healy (F) – Edmonton
One again proving herself again as a true team leader, and clutch player on the ice in tough situations, Jessica Healey scored both of Edmonton’s goals in Friday’s semifinal, opening the scoring at 2:18 in the first with a wrist shot from the blue line and notching the thrilling game-winner with her signature shootout move to give the Thunder a 2-1 victory over the Stoney Creek Sabres and a chance at their first-ever Esso Cup gold.


DAY 5 – THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014

1. Alexandra Poznikoff (F) – Edmonton
Forward Alexandra Poznikoff was an obvious choice for Thursday’s first star of the day, as she notched a pretty game-winning goal at 4:21 into overtime to lead the Thunder to their hard fought berth into semifinals, and a shot at a fifth straight Esso Cup medal. She also scored the first goal of the game midway through the first to help Edmonton edge host team the Stoney Creek Sabres 4-3.

2. Kayla Vespa (F) – Stoney Creek
Forward Kayla Vespa is the second star of the day for helping keep the Stoney Creek Sabres in their game against the Edmonton Thunder, scoring a shorthanded marker 15 seconds into the middle frame to get her team on the scoreboard and narrow the gap to 2-1, despite an eventual closely played 4-3 loss Thursday.

3. Kennedy Lanktree (F) – Sudbury
Kennedy Lanktree stood out offensively for the Sudbury Lady Wolves in their 6-3 win over the Fraser Valley Phantom on Thursday, scoring two straight goals in the first period to put her team up 4-0 going into intermission. Her first goal was a nice hard shot that went sailing into the right side of the net, while her second was off a nice pass on the power play. The 6-3 victory sends Sudbury straight into semis.


DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

1. Stephanie Pascal (G) – Sudbury
Sudbury netminder Stephanie Pascal was rock solid between the posts for the Sudbury Lady Wolves on Wednesday, making 16 saves over three periods to help her team edge three-time Esso Cup bronze medallists the Edmonton Thunder 3-2 on Day 4 of the Esso Cup.

2. Alexandra Poznikoff (F) – Edmonton
Alexandra Poznikoff assisted the goal that tied it up for the Edmonton Thunder in the first, and notched her team’s second and only other goal early in the middle frame, to keep the Esso Cup favourites in the game Wednesday, despite a tough 3-2 loss to the Sudbury Lady Wolves.

3. Brooke Murphy (F) – Moncton
The Moncton Rockets may have suffered a 7-2 loss to the Fraser Valley Phantom on Wednesday, but the game wasn’t without highlights for the Atlantic team, as Brooke Murphy added a goal and an assist in the second period to shine on the scoreboard for her team.


DAY 3 – TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014

1. Faith Steeves  (F) – Moncton
Her hat trick helped the Moncton Rockets to a phenomenal win Tuesday, as the underdog Atlantic representatives edged Esso Cup favourites the Edmonton Thunder 5-4, keeping her team in the running with one goal per period.

2. Jane Kish (G) – Weyburn
Jane Kish was a wall for the Weyburn Gold Wings on Tuesday, making an incredible 38 saves on 40 shots to help keep her team in the game, and earn the 3-2 win over the Fraser Valley Phantom, to make it three straight for the Western reps.

3. Alexa Vasko (F) – Stoney Creek
In what was a rematch of the Ontario provincial championship, Alexa Vasco scored the shorthanded game-winning goal to give host team the Stoney Creek Sabres a 2-1 win over rivals the Sudbury Lady Wolves, for redemption in front of a hometown crowd at the 2014 Esso Cup.


DAY 2 – MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014

1. Karli Shell (F) – Sudbury
Karli Shell scored not once, but twice, to help lead the Sudbury Lady Wolves to an impressive 5-1 win over the Moncton Rockets on Monday, her team’s first victory at the 2014 Esso Cup, with both goals coming in the firstperiod, including one power play marker.

2. Cassidy Pirlot (F) – Weyburn
Cassidy Pirlot was a major contributor to the score sheet for the Weyburn Gold Wings on Monday, as she assisted the first goal of the game, a third period marker and then followed up with one of her own, to help her team top the Edmonton Thunder 4-2 for a second straight win.

3. Natasha Costello (F) – Stoney Creek
Forward Natasha Costello was key in helping the Stoney Creek Sabres shut out the Fraser Valley Phantom 3-0 on Monday net, providing the screen for the first goal in the opening frame, and scoring the second herself in the second, her hard work helping give the host team its second Esso Cup victory.


DAY 1 – SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014

1. Claire Merrick (F) – Stoney Creek
Forward Claire Merrick had two goals and an assist Sunday, leading the Stoney Creek Sabres dominate the Moncton Rockets 8-2 in a strong start for the host team in front of a hometown crowd at the 2014 Esso Cup.

2. Jenica Whitrow (F) – Weyburn
Jenica Whitrow added an assist in the second and notched a goal in the third to helping the Weyburn Gold Wings edge the Sudbury Lady Wolves 2-1 to kick off the 2014 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, on Sunday morning.

3. Jessica Healey (D) – Edmonton
Under-18 world champion Jessica Healey scored the Edmonton Thunder’s lone goal of the game late in the third period to help last year’s bronze medallists squeak by last year’s host team the Fraser Valley Phantom 1-0 on Sunday.

Videos
Photos
2014 Esso Cup: EDM 1 - WEY 2
Jane Kish made 29 saves to backstop the Gold Wings to the 2014 Esso Cup.
2014 Esso Cup: SUD 3 - STC 2
Sudbury Lady Wolves defeated Stoney Creek Sabres to win bronze.
2014 Esso Cup: SUD 0 - WEY 3
Gold Wings shut out Lady Wolves and advance to gold medal game.
2014 Esso Cup: EDM 2 - STC 1 (SO)
Jessica Healey’s shootout winner sends Thunder to gold medal game.