2016 Esso Cup

TRUSSLER GETS WINNER AS ICE CATS TOP STARS

WENDY GRAVES

Weyburn, Sask. – The Brantford Ice Cats defeated the Saskatoon Stars 3-2 in a high-paced, highly entertaining – and sometimes heated – game on Wednesday afternoon at the 2016 Esso Cup.

The teams combined to be called for 17 minor penalties.

As such, it was special teams that determined the outcome. Late in the second period in a 2-2 game, a strong forecheck by Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ont.) while killing a Brantford penalty forced Kalista Senger (Clavet, Sask.) into a hooking call. Less than two minutes later, Danielle Girolami (Saskatoon, Sask.) sat with her for interference.

Off the face-off, Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ont.) sent a cross-ice pass to Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ont.), whose shot was tipped in by Taylor Trussler (Kitchener, Ont.).

It was all Brantford in the early going. The Ice Cats fired eight shots on net over the first seven minutes, and the Stars didn’t register their first shot until the period was nearly half over.

Showing all of that meant nothing, Mackenna Parker (Clavet, Sask.) picked up the puck deep in her own zone, took it cross ice and then skated down the wing. The highlight-reel play, finished with a shot from the face-off dot, caused the lights in Crescent Point Place to momentarily go out.

Less than two minutes later Julia Rongve (Saskatoon, Sask.) doubled the Stars lead on the power play.

Down but not deterred, the Ice Cats took little time of their own to reply. Only 2:12 after going down by two, Kelly scored her sixth goal of the tournament, sweeping the puck in from the side of the net.

Thirty seconds later it was a tie game. Paige Rynne (Ancaster, Ont.), trailing the play behind the net, took advantage of a turnover near the Stars crease and stabbed the puck in the back of the net.

The parade to the penalty box continued in the third, with Brantford seemingly determined to make life difficult for itself. Back-to-back penalties late in regulation, followed by an empty Saskatoon net, meant the Ice Cats played two skaters down for the last two minutes.

Brantford finished one for 10 on the power play, Saskatoon one for seven.

Emma Verbruggen (Ancaster, Ont.) made 20 saves for her third win.

Jordan Ivanco (Saskatoon, Sask.) stopped 33 of 36 shots in her first start of the week.