2012 Esso Cup

DAY 7 - SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012

1. All Esso Cup players
The players put on a great show all week long in Charlottetown, bringing the crowds at CARI Complex to their feet time and time again with the high calibre of hockey they played.

2. Lauryn Keen (F) - West
Lauryn Keen (Manitou, Man.) was a force to be reckoned with on the ice for the Pembina Valley, scoring a highlight reel-worthy goal and adding two assists to help the Hawks soar to their first Esso Cup gold medal.

3. Brett Campbell (F) - Pacific
With the game tied 1-1 through two periods, Campbell came through in the third for Edmonton, scoring twice and assisting another goal in the last 20 minutes to propel the Thunder to bronze honours, their third medal and four years at the Esso Cup.

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DAY 6 - FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012

1. The 2012 Esso Cup volunteers
The volunteers at this year’s Esso Cup have earned this honour, as it is their time, effort and incredible enthusiasm that have made this year’s National Female Championship such as success. Thank you all!  

2. Jessica Gazzola (F) and Michela Cava (F) – Ontario
These two forwards earned the second star of the day, as they both scored twice in the second period, including a shorthanded goal apiece, to lead the Thunder Bay Queens to a semifinal win – and a spot in the gold medal game.

3. Cassidy Carels (F) – West
After being held without a goal in the preliminary round of the Esso Cup, Cassidy Carels (Bruxelles, Man.) broke out in a big way for the Pembina Valley Hawks, scoring both goals and maintaining an aggressive forecheck to help her team book a ticket to its first Esso Cup gold medal match-up.

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DAY 5 - THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

1. Gemma MacDonald (F) - Host

Gemma MacDonald (Blooming Point, P.E.I.) was a thorn in Saguenay's side Thursday night, as her aggressive forechecking helped Capital District maintain pressure throughout the game against Saguenay.

2. Farrah Nicholl (D) - Ontario

A Queens rookie, Farrah Nicholl (Thunder Bay, Ont.) scored her first two goals of the Esso Cup in the second period against Pembina Valley, while also providing a strong defensive presence Thursday for Thunder Bay.

3. Jessica Sekulic (F) - Pacific

Jessica Sekulic (Edmonton, Alta.) stepped up her game at both ends of the ice Thursday, adding three assists offensively and maintaining responsibility defensively to help Edmonton shut out Halifax.

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DAY 4 - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

1. Emy St-Jean (G) – Quebec

Emy St-Jean (St-Bruno, Que.) stole the show between the pipes Wednesday against Edmonton, making 47 saves in regulation and overtime before coming up big in the shootout to lead the Rebelles de Saguenay-Lac St-Jean (Quebec) to a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific).

2. Emma Martin (D) - Host

Emma Martin (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) played a stellar game at both ends of the ice Wednesday, getting herself involved in the play offensively, while doing her job defensively, by covering the Pembina Valley Hawks (West) attack and standing strong at the blue line.

3. Brianna Iazzolino (D) - Ontario

A veteran of Thunder Bay's 2010 Esso Cup winning team, Brianna Iazzolino (Thunder Bay, Ont.) stepped up her game Wednesday, making her presence known all over the ice, snagging a goal and an assist while also keeping top scorers from Halifax Metro Boston Pizza (Atlantic) in check through all three periods.

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DAY 3 – TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

1. Emma MacKinnon (G) – Host

The 2012 Esso Cup host team hasn’t won yet, but Capital District Cyclones netminder Emma MacKinnon (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) certainly can’t be blamed, as she made 28 saves despite a 4-0 loss to the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific), with fans in the stands at the CARI Complex cheering their hometown girl and the rest of the host team on Tuesday night in Charlottetown.

2. Stefannie Moak (G) – Atlantic

Stefannie Moak (Sackville, N.S.) was fantastic in the crease for Halifax Metro Boston Pizza, stopping 25 of 27 shots she faced and keeping the Atlantic representatives in the game with timely saves in key situations, even though in the end it was a 2-1 losing cause to the Pembina Valley Hawks (West) on Day 3 of the 2012 Esso Cup.

3. Michela Cava (F) – Ontario

Thunder Bay Queens captain Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, Ont.)  was dominant on the ice for the Ontario representatives Tuesday afternoon, scoring twice and adding an assist to lead her team to an 8-1 win over the Rebelles de Saguenay (Quebec), and put herself tied for first in 2012 Esso Cup scoring, with 11 points total in three games.

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DAY 2 – MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012

1. Jessica Gazzola (F) - Ontario
Jessica Gazzola (Thunder Bay, Ont.) scored three goals in the third period, and had four points total, to help lead Thunder Bay (Ontario) to an impressive 6-1 win over Edmonton (Pacific) on Day 2 of the 2012 Esso Cup.

2. Breanna Lanceleve (F) - Atlantic
Breanna Lanceleve (Sackville, N.S.) scored two goals and added two assists to lead Halifax (Atlantic) to its second win of the 2012 Esso Cup, a 5-2 victory over fellow east coasters, host team Capital District.

3. Emy St-Jean (G) - Québec
Rebelles de Saguenay goaltender Emy St-Jean (St-Bruno, Que.) made 38 saves, including several show-stoppers, despite her team’s tough 4-0 loss to Pembina Valley (West).

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DAY 1 – SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012

1. Brittni Mowat (G) - West
Mowat stood tall for Pembina Valley, making 33 saves and stopping all seven shots in a shootout to lead the Hawks to a 1-0 win over the Edmonton Thunder.

2. Samantha Strassburger (F) - Ontario
Strassburger earned three goals and one assist to lead Ontario to a 12-1 win over Esso Cup hosts the Capital District Cyclones.

3. Laura Polak (F) - Atlantic
Polak led the way offensively for Halifax Metro Boston Pizza, scoring once and adding three assists to help her team to a 5-1 opening game victory over the Rebelles de Saguenay.