Road to the 2022 Esso Cup: Pacific Regional

Will Edmonton book trip No. 8 to the Esso Cup, or can the Rush book its third ticket to the championship?

Shannon Coulter

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Edmonton Pandas booked its ticket to the Pacific Regional after defeating the three-time reigning Esso Cup champions, the St. Albert Slash, in the playoffs. Goals from Taylor Robinson and Emerson Jarvis, plus a 20-save performance from Misty Rey, led Edmonton to beat the Slash to win the AFHL championship.

The Fraser Valley Rush dropped the first game of its three-game series against Northern Capitals but battled back to win the final two games and claim the B.C. Elite Hockey League title. The Rush got off to a quick start in the series-deciding game with three goals in the first period—including Gillian Lapierre’s first of two goals coming only 13 seconds into the game—to earn a spot in the regionals.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2019 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal)
2018 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal)
2017 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal)
2016 – Rocky Mountain Raiders (bronze medal)
2015 – Red Deer Chiefs (silver medal)

EDMONTON PANDAS
AFHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 26-1-2 (1st in AFHL)
Goals for: 111
Goals against: 29
Leading scorer: Cassidy Rhodes (14G 21A 35P)

Playoff record: 3-1
Goals for: 14
Goals against: 9
Leading scorer: Emerson Jarvis (7G 2A 9P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Round Robin: defeated Red Deer Chiefs 5-4; lost to St. Albert Slash 1-2; defeated Calgary Fire 6-2
Final: defeated St. Albert Slash 2-1

Last national championship appearance: 2015 (5th place)
Total national championship appearances: 7 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

FRASER VALLEY RUSH
BCEHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 28-3-1 (1st in BCEHL)
Goals for: 140
Goals against: 43
Leading scorer: Aynsley D’Ottavio (11G 44A 55P)

Playoff record: 4-1
Goals for: 22
Goals against: 9
Leading scorer: Gillian Lapierre (4G 4A 8P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Thompson-Okanagan Lakers 2-0 (7-1, 4-1)
Final: defeated Northern Capitals 2-1 (3-4, 3-2, 5-1)

Last national championship appearance: 2014 (5th place)
Total national championship appearances: 2 (2013, 2014)