After finishing with two wins and two losses in the preliminary round, the Westman Wildcats edged the Edmonton Thunder 3-2 in the semifinals. A back-and-forth tilt in the gold medal game against the Scarborough Sharks saw the teams exchange goals in the first period and again one minute into the second.

Halfway through the second Brittany Phillips’ shot ricocheted to Jenna-Marie Durnin, who buried what proved to be the game-winner. Durnin would finish with two goals and an assist in the game, and Phillips added two assists as Westman won the inaugural Esso Cup with a 5-2 victory and became the first team to earn the right to be called the best female Midget team in Canada.

Why not us?
With it being the first Esso Cup no one really knew what to expect. “We really just thought to ourselves, why not. Why can’t it be us?” says Phillips, who went on to play for Colgate University and now works in the oil fields. “Why can’t we go out there with an ultimate effort and come away with the win?” Two goals in the last 10 minutes gave the team the confidence to close out the game. “I think that’s when we realized we had the power to do this.”

Lights, camera, puck drop
TSN broadcast the championship game, something the Wildcats were far more aware of after the game than during. “You didn’t really notice it (when you were playing),” says Durnin, “but afterward your phone blew up with all your friends from back home.”

Etching their name
As the team stood on the blue-line waiting to receive its medals, players couldn’t help but think about how far they’d come. “It was quite emotional – the pride in our team and our program because a couple years before we were wearing practice jerseys for our jerseys,” says Durnin. “Then we did well and got more exposure and were able to get real jerseys.”

Champs, come get your Cup
“We were all kind of stunned to be honest,” says Phillips, the team’s captain, about being called up to get the new trophy. “Lifting it up was (more about) trying to get it all our teammates because they all deserved to lift it up.”

Hometown heroes
After capturing the Manitoba title, Westman hosted the Prince Albert Bears, winners in Saskatchewan, in a best-of-three series to represent the West Region at the Esso Cup. “I think that was the most people that had ever been in that arena, and it was really encouraging,” says Phillips. “And it was the same when we got back.” Everywhere players went in the town of Hartney, they were met with smiles from supporters. “Even people who didn’t know knew who you were went out of their way to say congratulations,” says Phillips. Durnin’s hometown of Wawanesa, Man., broadcast the news on the town’s sign and an assembly was called at her school.

Wrapped up with a ring
Thanks to help from a grant from Hockey Manitoba, the players also received championship rings. Durnin took hers with her when she went to play at the University of Lethbridge. Now a registered nurse, Durnin then shared a house with a couple players from the Calgary Flyers, one of Westman’s opponents at the Esso Cup. “I would wear (the ring around) the house,” she says, laughing. “I’d have it in my room and bring it out just to rub it in.”