2019 Esso Cup

LADY WOLVES BLANK SABRES TO PUNCH TICKET TO FINAL

QUINTON AMUNDSON

SUDBURY, Ont. – Katie Chomiak scored two goals and added an assist to propel the Sudbury Lady Wolves to a berth in the gold medal game at the 2019 Esso Cup by beating the Stoney Creek Sabres 5-0 on Friday night.

Sudbury will attempt to become the first Esso Cup host to finish on top of the podium when it meets the St. Albert Slash, the two-time defending national champions, on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET, TSN2).

Stoney Creek will go for bronze earlier in the day against the Saskatoon Stars (12 p.m. ET).

Mireille Kingsley, who was crowned Esso Cup MVP and Top Goaltender on Friday morning, made 18 saves to earn the shutout.

The Lady Wolves lived up to their animal namesake, coming out on the prowl offensively from the opening puck drop; they stormed to a 3-0 lead and an 18-5 edge in shots in the first 20 minutes of the all-OWHA semifinal.

Hannah Smith drew first blood at 8:14 by jamming in a rebound off an initial shot created by an electrifying end-to-end rush down the right wing by Chomiak. Chomiak scored herself with a shot from the left face-off circle, and Taylor Scott rounded out the opening period with a snipe that connected with the top-right corner with 1:24 to go.

Sabres goaltender Kayla McDougall was done after 20 minutes; Megan Warrener made 27 saves on 29 shots the rest of the way.

While the Lady Wolves held a 19-8 edge in shots in the second period, the Sabres did manage to stabilize their defensive end. They only yielded a power-play goal from Lauren Hancock with 40 seconds remaining in the middle frame.

Chomiak put an exclamation point on a dream night for Lady Wolves fans by fending off a couple of defenders to beat Warrener with a shot from the slot at 4:08 of the final period.