2017 Esso Cup

KUSHNIRUK AND AMUNDSON SCORE TWICE IN BEARS’ FIRST ESSO CUP WIN

LEE BOYADJIAN

MORDEN, Man. – Camryn Amundson started the scoring and Jadyn Kushniruk got the game-winner, as the Prince Albert Bears picked up their first win of the 2017 Esso Cup, 6-1 over the Mid-Isle Wildcats on Tuesday afternoon.

Amundson's opener came just 3:36 into the opening frame. Cruising through the slot, she flipped a backhand on net, which fooled Mid-Isle netminder Maggie Johnston and snuck in under her arm.

Still in the first, Kushniruk picked up a loose puck at the face-off dot and snapped it high blocker on Johnston. The goal was Kushniruk’s first of the tournament and would hold up as the game-winner.

The third goal of the period came from the Amundson, who whipped one on net from the corner. The puck deflected off Johnston and in for a 3-0 Bears lead. The shots favoured Prince Albert 25-2 after 20 minutes.

In the second, the Bears continued to press on the forecheck. After trapping the Wildcats deep in their own end for an extended shift, Sierra Parenteau found a lane and fired a shot in on Johnston, who made the initial save. The rebound deflected right to Story Navrot, who had an easy tap-in from the slot to make it 4-0.

Near the end of the frame, Bears defenceman Colby Donald spotted Kushniruk on the Wildcats blue-line and rifled a pass through centre ice. The puck bounced off the shins of a Wildcat right to Kushniruk, who walked in on a short break and wired one past the blocker for a 5-0 lead.

In the third, Mid-Isle found itself on a power play near the midway point of the period. Taylor Gillis and Madison Vincent worked the puck into the crease before Vincent finally buried the loose puck to get the Wildcats on the board, down 5-1.

Prince Albert would add another goal, from Miranda Heidt, late in the third, to finish the scoring.

Coming up Wednesday, it is an all-prairie showdown with Prince Albert looking to build off its win as it faces the St. Albert Slash at 12 p.m. CT. In the afternoon, Mid-Isle meets the Durham West Lightning for a game with an eastern twist. Puck drop is at 3:30 p.m. CT.