2012 Esso Cup

QUEENS KICK OFF QUEST TO RECLAIM ESSO CUP CROWN WITH WIN OVER HOST CYCLONES

by Geordie Carragher

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – After a hiatus from the Esso Cup last season, the 2010 gold medal-winning Thunder Bay Queens (Ontario) are back, and they’ve already sent a message to this year’s competition:
they’re here to win.

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Thunder Bay struck early and often in their opening game Sunday night, defeating the host Capital District Cyclones 12-1 in front of a raucous crowd at the CARI Complex in Charlottetown.

Queens captain Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and 2010 Esso Cup MVP Kaitlyn Tougas (Thunder Bay, Ont.) displayed chemistry and skill reminiscent of their championship run from two seasons ago, as they led their team to four goals in a stretch of 7:47 in the opening period.

In total, Cava and Tougas both had two goals and three assists, while Samantha Strassburger (Schreiber, Ont.) also helped fuel the Queens attack, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist.

Gemma MacDonald (Blooming Point, P.E.I.) scored the lone goal for the Cyclones.

Megan Leikkari (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Jayde Turcotte (Thunder Bay, Ont.) combined to make 11 saves for Thunder Bay, while Emma MacKinnon (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and Taylor Hill (Sherwood, P.E.I.) combined to stop 28 shots for Capital District.

The Cyclones hung in tough early on, killing off a Thunder Bay 5-on-3 midway through the first period, holding off the Queens from scoring on four power-play opportunities.

However, just five seconds after a penalty to Capital District’s Kristen Murray (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) expired, Gazzola took a pass from Kaley Tienhaara (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and beat MacKinnon to give Thunder Bay a three-goal lead. Drue Ahola (Thunder Bay, Ont.) scored 18 seconds later to give the Queens a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Thunder Bay kept up the pace into the second, as Gazzola and Strassburger combined to score three goals in the first 6:20 of the middle frame.

MacDonald sent the hometown crowd into a frenzy after scoring a power-play goal late in the second for Capital District, only to have Tougas score twice in less than three minutes to close out the period.

Three goals in 7:20 of the third period wrapped up the scoring for Thunder Bay.

Capital District will look to break into the win column tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. AT, when the host team takes on Halifax Metro Boston Pizza (Atlantic), who bested the Rebelles de Saguenay 5-1 earlier Sunday. Meanwhile, Thunder Bay will look to keep their momentum going tomorrow at 4 p.m. AT, when the 2010 champs face off against 2011 silver medallists the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific). Catch the games live online through FASTHockey at www.hockeycanada.fasthockey.com.

Game Information
Game Number	3	Round	Preliminary
Arena	CARI Complex	City, Country	Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Month / Day / Year	04/22/2012	Time	08:00 PM AT
Attendance		Game Status	Final

Box Score	1	2	3	Total
Thunder Bay Queens (ONT)	4	5	3	12
Capital District Cyclones (HST)	0	1	0	1

Goals/Penalties

First Period

Goals:
   07:22 ONT 8 Michela Cava (9 Kaitlyn Tougas)
   09:45 ONT 17 Samantha Strassburger (8 Michela Cava, 9 Kaitlyn Tougas)
   14:51 ONT 18 Jessica Gazzola (12 Kaley Tienhaara, 16 Jillian Langtry)
   15:09 ONT 22 Drue Ahola (7 Natasha Nicholl)

Penalties:
   10:55 HST 27 Emma Martin (Roughing)
   12:46 HST 5 Kristen Murray (Bodychecking)
   17:18 ONT 16 Jillian Langtry (Hooking)

Second Period

Goals:
   00:27 ONT 18 Jessica Gazzola (16 Jillian Langtry, 4 Brianna Iazzolino)
   05:53 ONT 17 Samantha Strassburger (18 Jessica Gazzola, 5 Azia Vass)
   06:20 ONT 17 Samantha Strassburger (8 Michela Cava)
   16:15 HST 15 Gemma MacDonald (14 Jocelyn Dougan) PP
   16:36 ONT 9 Kaitlyn Tougas (17 Samantha Strassburger, 4 Brianna Iazzolino)
   19:27 ONT 9 Kaitlyn Tougas (8 Michela Cava)

Penalties:
   03:02 HST 4 Sam Malsaac (Tripping)
   08:05 ONT 16 Jillian Langtry (Tripping)
   15:40 ONT 7 Natasha Nicholl (Cross Checking)

Third Period

Goals:
   09:25 ONT 8 Michela Cava (9 Kaitlyn Tougas)
   11:07 ONT 16 Jillian Langtry (18 Jessica Gazzola)
   16:45 ONT 7 Natasha Nicholl

Penalties:
   03:55 ONT 4 Brianna Iazzolino (Checking to the Head)
   04:20 ONT 5 Azia Vass (Hooking)
   12:02 ONT 7 Natasha Nicholl (Inter. on Goaltender)
   18:59 HST 28 Hannah Dykerman (Interference)

Goaltenders

Thunder Bay Queens