STONEY CREEK, Ont. – The stage is set for the gold medal game between the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific – Alberta) and Weyburn Gold Wings (West) at the 2014 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, taking place at the Gateway Ice Centre in Stoney Creek.

Both teams won their semifinals Friday, with the Gold Wings shutting out the Sudbury Lady Wolves (Ontario) 3-0 in the early game, and the Thunder edging the Stoney Creek Sabres (host) 2-1 in a shootout during the late game.

Bailee Bourassa (Weyburn, Sask.) and Cassidy Pirlot (Wauchope, Sask.) both had a goal and an assist, while Paige Smith (Midale, Sask.) also scored in Weyburn’s win. Jessica Healey (Edmonton, Alta.) scored both goals, including the shootout winner, in Edmonton’s victory.

The wins earn Edmonton and Weyburn berths into Saturday’s gold medal game, which will air live at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on TSN2, official broadcaster of Hockey Canada. The Sabres and Lady Wolves face off for the bronze medal at noon ET/9 a.m. PT, with the game streaming live online by FASTHockey at www.hockeycanada.ca/essocup.

Day passes for the medal round are still available for $10 each at the Gateway Ice Centre in Stoney Creek. Please email [email protected] for more information. Some seating restrictions apply.

Award winners for the 2014 Esso Cup were announced Friday morning at a breakfast banquet for the six participating teams, which also includes the Moncton Rockets (Atlantic) and Fraser Valley Phantom (B.C.). The tournament’s awards committee named six recipients, with the awards based on the preliminary round games played from Sunday, April 20 through Thursday, April 24.

The 2014 Esso Cup award winners are as follows:
Most Valuable Player – Alexandra Poznikoff, Edmonton Thunder (Pacific – Alberta)
Top Goaltender – Jane Kish, Weyburn Gold Wings (West)
Top Defenceman – Jessica Healey, Edmonton Thunder (Pacific – Alberta)
Top Forward – Karli Shell, Sudbury Lady Wolves (Ontario)
Most Sportsmanlike Player – Claire Merrick, Stoney Creek Sabres (Host)
Top Scorer – Karli Shell, Sudbury Lady Wolves (Ontario)

The Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Award, which recognizes an active female player who demonstrates dedication to and leadership in the game and whose characteristics reflect those of the award’s namesake, was also presented Friday morning to Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux (St-Zacharie, Que./Montreal, CWHL), a Canadian Women’s Hockey League founder and a three-time Clarkson Cup champion.

The 2014 Esso Cup, presented in partnership by Hockey Canada, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, Tourism Hamilton and the Stoney Creek Girls Hockey Association, started Sunday, April 20 and runs through Saturday, April 26.

This marks the sixth annual National Female Midget Championship, with the Westman Wildcats (West) winning the inaugural event in Calgary, Alta., in 2009, the Thunder Bay Queens (Ontario) winning in 2010 in Regina, Sask., the Notre Dame Hounds (West) claiming gold in 2011 in St. Albert, Alta., the Pembina Valley Hawks (West) winning in 2012 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and LHFDQ Nord (Québec) winning in 2013 in Burnaby, B.C.

MEDIA NOTE: For 2014 Esso Cup interview requests, please contact Hockey Canada communications coordinator Kristen Lipscombe at (403) 826-4819 or [email protected].

For more information on the 2014 Esso Cup, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/essocup, and follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/essocup and www.twitter.com/hc_essocup.