2010 Esso Cup

HOUNDS KICK OFF ESSO CUP ON HIGH NOTE

REGINA, Sask. – A power play goal by Brienna Gillanders (Kyle, Sask.) just 43 seconds into the game helped the Notre Dame Hounds start their week at the Esso Cup off in style, with the Western representatives creating plenty of pretty plays over all three periods to take their first game of the national championship 5-2 over Pacific representatives the Edmonton Thunder.

Notre Dame’s second marker came courtesy of Taylor Woods (Wilcox, Sask.), who fired a bullet into the top corner of the net while her team was shorthanded at 7:28 in the first. That was followed up a few minutes later by teammate Olivia Howe (Moose Jaw, Sask.), who let her own hard shot rip from the point to put the Hounds up 3-0 going into the intermission.

A rough start didn’t deter the Thunder, with Jessica Sekulic (Edmonton, Alta.) putting the puck past netminder Tamber Tisdale (Red Deer, Alta.) and putting Edmonton up on the scoreboard midway through the second on a beautiful pass out front from Rachel Johnson (Edmonton, Alta.).  But the Hounds were able to capitalize on another power play, with Woods scoring her second of the day on a Tic-Tac-Toe play on assists from Gillanders and Brooke Wilgosh (Regina, Sask.).

Although Kirsten Reeves (Edmonton, Alta.) tried to keep her team in the game with a goal early in the third, the Hounds sealed the deal with less than five minutes left in the game when Howe scored her second for the 5-2 victory. Not even an Edmonton Thunder penalty shot stopped Notre Dame, with Tisdale cutting off the angle and easily making the save.  Woods was named Player of the Game for Notre Dame, while defenceman Riana Magee (received the honour for Edmonton.