2015 Esso Cup

RICHARD’S THREE POINTS PACE HOST CHIEFS PAST ROCKETS

RED DEER, Alta. – Ashley Richard (Red Deer, Alta.) had three points, Maddison Toppe (Red Deer, Alta.) and Breanna Martin (Red Deer, Alta.) each had two-point nights, and Sarah Murray (Calgary, Alta.) made 22 saves as the host Red Deer Chiefs defeated the Moncton Rockets to close out the opening day of the 2015 Esso Cup.

Richard scored twice, with Martin and Paige Grenier (Olds, Alta.) adding the others. Toppe contributed two assists, with Gina Sosnowski (Lacombe, Alta.), Abagael Thiessen (Red Deer, Alta.) and Jordyn Burgar (Sylvan Lake, Alta.) adding one each.

Taylor Carr-Babineau (Moncton, N.B.) scored the lone goal for Moncton, with an assist from Isabelle Letourneau (Moncton, N.B.).

Brianne Waterman (Memramcook, N.B.) started the game in net for the Rockets, but left halfway through the game with a possible injury after allowing the third Chiefs goal. Emilie Arsenault (St. Louis, N.B.) replaced her. The two combined to make 25 saves.

A four-goal outburst in the second proved to be the difference for Red Deer.

After a close opening 20 minutes, a fortunate bounce got the ball rolling for the Chiefs 2:14 into the second. Richard simply threw the puck on net from a few feet inside the blue line. The puck short-hopped in front of Waterman and bounced in past the goalie.

Just over two minutes later Moncton paid the price for failing to clear the puck from its zone. A wrist shot from just inside the blue line and the first rebound stayed out, but the third shot of the sequence – a backhand in close from Grenier – was the charm.

Martin, the Chief’s leading scoring during the regular season, added to her team’s lead five minutes later by taking a stretch pass from Richard off the side boards and going backhand.

With that Waterman’s night was done and in came Arsenault.

Only minutes after taking over Richard went to the net and beat the new goalie with a forehand from the low slot.

It was an unfortunate familiar feeling for the Rockets. Last year in Stoney Creek, Ont., the team also took a hard opening night loss to the host team, falling 8-1 to the Sabres.

The team was able to get one back in the third on the power play. On a great individual effort, Carr-Babineau circled out of her own zone, carried the puck up ice and, using the defender as a screen, sent the puck off Murray’s blocker and in.