2016 National Women's Under-18 Championship

WABICK GETS SHOOTOUT WINNER FOR MANITOBA

WENDY GRAVES

REGINA, Sask. – Taylor Wabick (Winnipeg, Man./Balmoral Hall, JWHL) scored in the sixth round of the shootout as Manitoba erased a third period deficit to defeat Quebec and pick up its first win of the 2016 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

The defenceman went five-hole for the only goal of the shootout.

Manitoba outshot Quebec 46-18, but found itself trailing by two as the second period was winding down.

The team was able to get one back 42 seconds before the intermission. Morgan Wabick (Winnipeg, Man./Balmoral Hall, JWHL) backhanded a pass out front to Ashton Bell (Deloraine, Man./Westman, MFMHL), who backhanded the puck high into the net from the top of the crease.

Lauren Warkinen (Steinbach, Man./Eastman, MFMHL) then tied the game midway through the third period, finding the back of the net from the slot.

Manitoba nearly won it late in the third, but Quebec goaltender Marie-Ève Côté (Sainte-Foy, Que./Limoilou, CEGEP) stoned Morgan Wabick’s shot from the low slot with only 1.3 seconds left.

Off the opening face-off in overtime, Morgan Wabick got a jumped on the defence, but a great glove save by Côté had the teams carrying on.

Nothing rode on the outcome of the day’s second game. Quebec had already clinched top spot in Group B after winning its first two contests, while Manitoba knew its next game would only be for placement.

By virtue of just qualifying for the semifinals, Quebec guaranteed itself a better finish than a year ago, when the six-time silver medallist finished sixth.

The only goal of the first came with just over four minutes left on the clock. A bouncing puck off a shot from the top of the circle was redirected by Joannie Garand (Otterburn Park, Que./Nord, LHFDQ) to Audrey-Anne Veillette (Drummondville, Que./Stanstead College, CAHS) , who provided the finishing touch.

Manitoba dominated shots on net in the second – 14-4 – but couldn’t make up any lost ground. In fact, the team briefly fell further behind.

With about five minutes left, Émilie Lavoie (Beloeil, Que./Nord, LHFDQ) sprung her teammates on a three-on-one. Veillette scored on a centering pass from Garand for her second goal of the game.

Kerigan Dowhy (The Pass, Man./Interlake, MFMHL) picked up the win in net.