STONEY CREEK, Ont. – The Weyburn Gold Wings (West) have won the 2014 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, edging the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific – Alberta) 2-1 in the gold medal game Saturday at the Gateway Ice Centre.
It was the first appearance – and first win – at the Esso Cup for the Gold Wings. Tessa Wilson (Mazenod, Sask.) opened the scoring for Weyburn at 16:01 of the first period, while Bailee Bourassa (Weyburn, Sask.) added the game-winner at 1:50 of the second. Although Brett Campbell (Edmonton, Alta.) narrowed the gap on a power play at 7:01 of the middle frame, Weyburn was able to hold on for the victory. Jane Kish (Weyburn, Sask.) made 29 saves for the win.
Earlier Saturday, the Sudbury Lady Wolves (Ontario) won the bronze medal with a 3-2 win over the host Stoney Creek Sabres. Jesse Bellamy (St. Catharines, Ont.) scored the first goal of the game for Stoney Creek at 7:19 in the first, but Sudbury came back in the second with goals from Sydney Walker (Val Caron, Ont.) and Karli Shell (Lively, Ont.) to make it 2-1 after 40 minutes. Stephanie Ayres (Burlington, Ont.) tied it up for Stoney Creek at 11:21 of the third, but Victoria Pitawanakwat (Manitowaning, Ont.) scored the game-winner at 12:57 for the Lady Wolves.
Ths year’s tournament was the sixth annual Esso Cup, 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.
“It has been a wonderful week of women’s hockey here in Hamilton and Stoney Creek,” said Fran Rider, 2014 Esso Cup co-chair and Ontario Women’s Hockey Association president. “This year’s Esso Cup is proof positive that the female game is becoming increasingly competitive and continues to grow both in Ontario and across the country.”
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 ran through Saturday, April 26.
MEDIA NOTE: For 2014 Esso Cup interview requests, please contact Hockey Canada communications coordinator Kristen Lipscombe at (403) 826-4819 or klipscombe@hockeycanada.ca.
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.