2012 Esso Cup

THUNDER BAY QUEENS CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS WITH 8-1 WIN OVER REBELLES DE SAGUENAY-LAC ST-JEAN

By Geordie Carragher

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - After three games in three days, the Thunder Bay Queens (Ontario) continue to separate themselves from the pack at the 2012 Esso Cup.

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The Queens exploded in the second period Tuesday, tallying five goals in a six-minute stretch to roll over the Rebelles de Saguenay-Lac St-Jean (Quebec) 8-1 at the CARI Complex.

Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Jessica Gazzola (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Jillian Langtry (Fort Frances, Ont.) led the way offensively for Thunder Bay, each scoring two goals and adding an assist. Natasha Nicholl (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Samantha Strassburger (Schreiber, Ont.) also scored for Thunder Bay, while blueliner Brianna Iazzolino (Thunder Bay, Ont.) had three assists for the Queens.

Nicholl opened the scoring for Thunder Bay at just over six minutes into the game, while Langtry scored the game-winner late in the first. Langtry then scored her second of the game, a short-handed goal midway through the second, to kick-start an offensive outburst for the Queens, which also featured two goals from Cava and singles from both Gazzola and Strassburger.

Saguenay captain Sophie Gagnon (Chicoutimi, Que.) scored late in the second to spoil Thunder Bay’s shutout bid, while Gazzola scored her tournament-leading seventh goal two minutes into the third to round out the scoring at 8-1 in favour of Thunder Bay. Netminder Jayde Turcotte (Thunder Bay, Ont.) made 15 saves for the Queens, while Annie-Pier Harvey (St-Eugène-d’Argentay, Que.) stopped 42 shots for the Rebelles.
Cava and Gazzola are tied atop the tournament scoring race, with 11 points through their first three games. Thunder Bay has been dynamic at both ends of the rink so far, scoring 26 goals while only allowing three.

The Rebelles de Saguenay-Lac St-Jean find themselves in a must-win situation Wednesday at 4 p.m. AT, when they take on the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific). Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay Queens will look to continue their undefeated streak at 12 p.m. AT on Wednesday, when they take on Halifax Metro Boston Pizza (Atlantic).

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Penalties:
   07:37 QUE 24 Claudia Dubois (Hooking)
   14:08 QUE 10 Aryane Perron (Tripping)

Penalties:
   06:10 ONT 5 Azia Vass (Interference)
   07:27 QUE 26 Andrée-Anne Dufour (Checking to the Head)
   07:58 ONT 19 Farrah Nicholl (Bodychecking)

Penalties:
   04:42 ONT 10 Michaela Coulter (Hooking)
   05:17 ONT 30 Jayde Turcotte (Roughing After Whistle)
   16:17 QUE 23 Noémie Tremblay (Checking to the Head)
   16:17 QUE 23 Noémie Tremblay (Checking to the Head)