2011 National Women's Under-18 Championship

LEVEILLE RECORDS SHUTOUT AS ONTARIO RED WINS GOLD AGAIN

SAGUENAY, Que. – Ontario Red has won the gold medal at the 2011 National Women’s Under-18 Championship for the seventh time, beating Quebec 3-0 in Sunday’s final in front of more than 2,000 fans at the Centre Georges-Vézina.

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Ontario Red improved its all-time record at the tournament to a remarkable 35-1 while handing Quebec its sixth gold medal game loss.

Amanda Leveille made 22 saves for her second shutout and following the game was named the tournament’s top goaltender for her efforts.

It took just 63 seconds for Ontario Red to hit the board, as Jaimie McDonell (East York, Ont.) – who was named tournament MVP – beat Quebec netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que.) for an early 1-0 lead.

The intensity level picked up in the second period with just one goal separating the teams. Ontario Red held a slight 12-10 advantage in shots and scored the period’s only goal when Nicole Brown (Oshawa, Ont.) and Cayley Mercer (Exeter, Ont.) set up Victoria Pittens (Whitby, Ont.) for a 2-0 advantage after 40 minutes.

The Ontario Red defence clamped down in the third period, allowing just six shots on Leveille, and Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont.) rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal with just 24 seconds on the clock.

Ontario Red will try to make it eight gold medals in a row next year when the 2012 National Women’s Under-18 Championship comes to Dawson Creek, B.C.

Penalties:
   02:03 QC 25 Stéphanie Lalancette (Holding)
   10:31 QC 28 Abbey Frazer (Tripping)
   19:48 ON-R 22 Hilary Lloyd (Checking to the Head)
   19:48 ON-R 22 Hilary Lloyd (Checking to the Head)

Penalties:
   05:02 QC 16 Ève-Audrey Picard (Roughing)
   10:07 QC 14 Violaine Houle (Holding)
   11:28 ON-R   (Too Many Men)

Penalties:
   16:52 ON-R 7 Laura Stacey (Bodychecking)