2016 National Women's Under-18 Championship

WABICK SCORES FOUR; MANITOBA TAKES SEVENTH

WENDY GRAVES

REGINA, Sask. – Morgan Wabick (Winnipeg, Man./Balmoral Hall, JWHL) stole the show Saturday morning, scoring four times and leading Manitoba to a 6-1 win over Team Atlantic in the seventh-place game at the 2016 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Wabick is the fourth player to score four goals in a game at the U18 nationals, and the first since 2007.

Tatum Amy (Birtle, Man./Yellowhead, MFMHL) and Mackenzie Hutchinson (Manitou, Man./Pembina Valley, MFMHL) also scored for Manitoba. Corinne Schroeder made 15 saves for her first win.

Seventh is a disappointing final placement for the defending silver medallist, but the team finished strong in winning its last two games and going 2-2 overall.

Brette Pettet (Kentville, N.S./Shattuck-St. Mary’s, USHS) got the lone goal for Team Atlantic. Kelsey Shute (Harbour Grace, N.L./TriPen AAA Midget, NLMAAA) started in net and made 15 saves over two periods. Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, PEIMAAAHL) came in for the third and stopped 10 shots.

The first period was all about special teams, with all three goals coming with a player in the penalty box.

On Manitoba’s first of three power play opportunities in the period, Wabick took a cross-ice pass from Olivia Cvar (Gimli, Man./Balmoral Hall, JWHL) and absolutely wired the puck top shelf from the bottom of the circle.

The team struck again with the man-advantage six minutes later. After the Manitoba coaches made a last-second change to the players starting the power play, the team controlled the puck off the face-off. Wabick scored from the side of the net on the rebound off a point shot.

Atlantic was called for its third penalty of the period with about three minutes remaining. However, Pettet created a turnover in her own zone, outraced a defender up the wing and drove to the net, scoring shorthanded with a backhand.

A three-goal second period effectively put the game out of reach.

Wabick completed her hat trick six minutes in, shoveling in a pass from Hutchinson.

Kyra Thiessen’s (Winnipeg, Man./St. Mary’s Academy, CSSHL) outlet pass sent Amy on a breakaway, and she beat Shute low glove side.

And Hutchinson cleanly beat Shute from the left circle.

Team Atlantic switched goaltenders to start the third – with Boutilier taking over for Shute – but the change didn’t affect Wabick. She intercepted a puck at centre ice, went in alone and scored her fourth goal of the game.