2014 Esso Cup

Presented By newlogo
2014 Esso Cup
Game #15
Final (OT)
April 24, 2014 7:00 pm EST
Gateway Ice Centre
Stoney Creek, ON

Scoring

Teams
1st
2nd
3rd
OT
Final
Teams
1
2
3
OT
F
2
1
0
1
4

Shots on Goal

1st
2nd
3rd
OT
Final
1
2
3
OT
F
5
9
6
4
24
7
10
9
0
26

Statistics

PP
PIM
0 / 3
8
0 / 4
6

Game Story

POZNIKOFF WINS IT FOR THUNDER

by Wendy Graves

STONEY CREEK, Ont. – The math was simple, really: claim a point and claim a spot in the semifinals.
Mission accomplished.

Alexandra Poznikoff (Edmonton, Alta.) scored 4:21 into overtime and the Edmonton Thunder defeated the Stoney Creek Sabres 4-3 on Thursday night in the final game of the preliminary round of the 2014 Esso Cup.

“Luckily, we got a good chip and I could just skate in,” said Poznikoff following the game. “Once I got a step on (the defenceman) I had to get the goalie sliding. Luckily I got it, and it just (went) in.”

The overtime winner was Poznikoff’s second goal of the night. Jessica Healey (Edmonton, Alta.) and Amy Boucher (Edmonton, Alta.) also scored for the Thunder.

Kayla Vespa (Stoney Creek, Ont.), Mallory Young (Caistor Centre, Ont.) and Claire Merrick (Oakville, Ont.) scored for the Sabres.

This week has been a struggle for the experienced Edmonton team, making its sixth straight appearance at the Esso Cup. After suffering losses in three of its first four games, Poznikoff said the mentality coming into the preliminary finale was different.

“Those other games we were there, but there was nothing that riled us up,” she said. “But six minutes before we went on for our warm-up everybody was just cheering. That really helped us.”

The first period was the best 20 minutes the Thunder had played all week. Several early rushes showed the team could match the Sabres’ speed.

And it would be the Thunder’s quickness that got the team the first goal of the game. Poznikoff brought the puck from the right corner behind the net and finished with a wraparound into the bottom left side of Hannah Miller’s (Georgetown, Ont.) cage.

For the first time at the tournament, Stoney Creek found itself trailing.

Less than three minutes later, Healey doubled the lead with a sharp-angle shot from the bottom of the face-off circle.

Those two quick strikes spelled an end to the evening for Miller, who was replaced by Serena D’Angelo (Stoney Creek, Ont.).

Whatever good feelings Edmonton had coming out of the first intermission disappeared 15 seconds after retaking the ice.

Down a player, Vespa put home the rebound on Emily Calligan’s (Hannon, Ont.) wraparound attempt.

Young pulled her team even five minutes later when she put home Summer Belanco’s (Brantford, Ont.) shot.

Merrick’s team-leading third goal of the tournament – in which she drove past and went high on the goalie, before sliding on her stomach to the side boards – at 4:12 of the third tied things up.

The teams meet again Friday night in the semifinals.

Play-by-Play

Team
Description
Time
1st Period
PENALTY
Penalty: Alexa McMillan
(auto) Hooking minor (2:00)
07:48
GOAL
Goal: Alexandra Poznikoff

12:36
GOALTENDER CHANGE
Goaltender Change: Serena D'Angelo

15:09
GOAL
Goal: Jessica Healey

15:09
PENALTY
Penalty: Amy Boucher
Tripping minor (2:00)
17:36
PENALTY
Penalty: Nicole Gorda
(auto) Body Checking minor (2:00)
18:15
PENALTY
Penalty: Alexa Vasko
(auto) Hooking minor (2:00)
19:11
2nd Period
GOAL (SHORT HANDED)
Goal: Kayla Vespa

Assists: Emily Calligan
00:15
PENALTY
Penalty: Stephanie Ayres
Roughing minor (2:00)
02:10
GOAL
Goal: Mallory Young

Assists: Summer Belanco
05:05
GOAL
Goal: Amy Boucher

Assists: Madison Laplante
13:38
3rd Period
GOAL
Goal: Claire Merrick

Assists: Alison Bruder
04:12
PENALTY
Penalty: Stephanie Ayres
(auto) Checking to Head/Neck minor (2:00)
07:06
PENALTY
Penalty: Jessica Healey
(auto) Interference minor (2:00)
13:29
Overtime
GOAL
Goal: Alexandra Poznikoff

04:21

Goaltenders

Name Team Mins SA SVS GA SV%
Tracie Kikuchi EDM 60 26 23 3 0.885
Serena D'Angelo STC 45 21 20 1 0.952
Hannah Miller STC 15 2 0 2 0.000

Game Leaders

Goals 2 - Assists 0 - Points 2
G 2 - A 0 - P 2
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1

Previous Games

1 - 2 L @ Weyburn Gold WingsWEY
Apr 26, 2014
2 - 3 L vs. Sudbury Lady WolvesSUD
Apr 26, 2014
2 - 1 W @ Stoney Creek SabresSTC
Apr 25, 2014
1 - 2 L vs. Edmonton ThunderEDM
Apr 25, 2014
4 - 3 W @ Stoney Creek SabresSTC
Apr 24, 2014
3 - 4 L vs. Edmonton ThunderEDM
Apr 24, 2014
Videos
Photos
2016 TELUS Cup - LSL 6 – LLO 2 (Bronze)
The Lions scored five times in the second period to win the bronze.
2016 TELUS Cup - NYR 4 – SNB 1 (Gold)
Aidan Casey scored two to help the Rangers win their first TELUS Cup.
2016 TELUS Cup - NYR 5 – LLO 3 (Semifinal)
Calverley scored twice, and the Rangers advanced to play for gold.
2016 TELUS Cup - SNB 2 – LSL 1 (Semifinal)
MacDonald and Lafreniere scored late to lead the Vito’s into the final.
Close
Credit