2016 National Women's Under-18 Championship

OFFENCE LEADS ONTARIO RED TO GOLD MEDAL GAME

WENDY GRAVES

REGINA, Sask. – Ontario Red’s offence exploded on Saturday night as the defending gold medallist easily defeated British Columbia 9-1 in the semifinals and advanced to the gold medal game of the 2016 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Along the way the team set a new tournament record; its six goals in the second are the most scored by one team in one period.

Things went Ontario Red’s way right off the opening face-off. Sarah Fillier (Georgetown, Ont./Oakville, PWHL) took the puck, went around one defender and scored from the high slot. Scored seven seconds in, the goal was the second-fastest ever to start a game at the U18 nationals.

The team struck again six minutes later. Alexa Vasko (St. Catharines, Ont./Stoney Creek, PWHL) won a battle for the puck behind her own net, brought it along the boards and flipped it ahead to Maria Dominico (North Bay, Ont./North Bay, LLFHL). The forward used her speed to gain a stride on a defender, and then went left to right and slid the puck in five-hole.

B.C.’s lone goal came early in the second, when Amy Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./Pacific, JWHL) fed Reece Hunt (Nelson, B.C./Kootenay, BCFMAAA) on the rush.

Ontario Red’s record-setting second period then started with Fillier picking up her second goal of the night, this one scored at the side of the net. Five minutes later Emma Buckles (Toronto, Ont./Toronto, PWHL) cleanly beat goaltender Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, B.C./Kamloops, KMHA MT1) with a shot from up high. Lexie Adzija (St. Thomas, Ont./Oakville, PWHL) wired in a shot from the slot 4:28 after that.

With less than three to play in the period, Camryn Tait (Stouffville, Ont./Toronto, PWHL) scored with a high shot from the high slot.

After that Kate Stuart (Chilliwack, B.C./Pursuit of Excellence, CSSHL) took over in net for B.C.

The Ontario Red offence continued to roll, though.

Eight seconds later, off the ensuing face-off, Avery Mitchell (Pickering, Ont./Toronto, PWHL) drove along the boards and went short side with a backhand. She got her second with 18 seconds left in the period when her point shot went off Stuart’s glove and in.

Danika Ranger (Astorville, Ont./Durham West, PWHL) made 21 saves in net for the win.

Ontario Red will now play in its 10th gold medal game, where it will meet Quebec for the seventh time.