Schedule
Team Canada (Men)
IIHF World Junior Championship | Dec. 26, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
Spengler Cup | Dec. 26-31, 2024
4 Nations Face-Off | Feb 12-20, 2025
IIHF U18 World Championship | April 23-May 3, 2025
IIHF World Championship | May 9-25, 2025
U17 World Challenge | Nov. 3-9, 2024
Hlinka Gretzky Cup | Aug. 5-10, 2024
Junior A World Challenge | Dec. 9-15, 2024
National Junior Team vs. USPORTS | Dec 12-13, 2024
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SPOTLIGHT
Generosity in a time of need
When a historic storm brought flooding and landslides to southern British Columbia, Aynsley D’Ottavio relied on acts of kindness to help get her back home to Chilliwack
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May 17, 2022
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When Aynsley D’Ottavio left her home in Chilliwack, B.C., to tour Quinnipac University in November, she never imagined how difficult it would be to get back home.
The Fraser Valley Rush defenceman and her mother made the trip to Connecticut with the intent of touring the university for one day before returning home.
“We got in [to Connecticut] that night and my dad texted my mom and said that a storm was going on [back home],” D’Ottavio says. “It didn’t really affect us too much because we do live in B.C. and there’s a lot of rain.”
Not thinking much of the precipitation, they went to sleep after the long travel day in preparation for the tour in the morning. The next day, they continued to receive updates about the unprecedented amount of rain they were getting back home.
“I toured the school all day, and kind of was hearing about everything as the day went on,” D’Ottavio says. “And then flying home that night, [that’s when we] found out that it got really bad.”
A historic rainstorm brought some B.C. communities nearly a month’s worth of rain within the span of 48 hours. The storm broke dozens of rainfall records and caused devastating landslides that closed almost every major highway in southern B.C.
After an already rain-filled September and October in the Fraser Valley, the latest dump overwhelmed creeks and rivers that wouldn’t normally be flood risks. Entire regions of the Fraser Valley became ingulfed by floodwaters. About 20,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to the storm.
The original plan was for D’Ottavio’s father to pick her and her mother up at the airport to drive the 16-year-old to Langley so she could join the Rush to face the Northern Capitals. While laid over in Toronto, D’Ottavio found out that the storm ruined that plan.
“We were kind of at a loss as to what to do because my dad couldn’t get through the flooding to pick us up,” she says. “We got into Vancouver, and my mom’s boss generously got us a hotel in Vancouver. We stayed there for a night and just kind of assessed the situation.”
D’Ottavio was not the only member of the Rush that was impacted by the floods. Forward Hannah Dods was at home in Chilliwack when the storm began. At first, the 15-year-old didn’t think too much about the incoming storm, but hearing about the beginning of the flooding and the height of the water in the rivers grabbed her attention.
“The night before I remember I was with my friend and we were talking about how much it was raining and we’re like, ‘Do you think school might be closed?’ But we were completely doubting it,” she says. “The next thing you know, school’s closed.”
Thankfully, both Dods and D’Ottavio’s family homes were not affected by the flooding in Chilliwack. Dods’ school would end up staying closed for an entire week and became a refuge for people affected by the flooding. Although Dods’ home was unaffected, she did witness the effects of her hometown being cut off by the natural disaster.
“Literally any kind of resources you would usually get, we’re not getting fed with any new supplies or anything,” she says. “We can’t waste the fuel we have because we can’t get more. We can’t eat all our groceries because if we go to the store, there’s no groceries because no supplies are getting in and out of Chilliwack.”
With the highways blocked by debris and water, there was no way for Dods to get to Rush practices or games. It did offer a silver lining, though—the 15-year-old was able to participate more on her basketball team.
“It was good to have chill time, but probably the one thing that disappointed me the most was definitely missing out on my hockey,” Dods says. “I think I missed a game and a couple practices, and not seeing my teammates for a week was like, ‘I can’t wait to get back out there.’”
Back in Vancouver, D’Ottavio was making calls to her teammates to see what she could do for their upcoming games against the Capitals.
“We had a game the next day in the morning, so we got a hold of some teammates and kind of just saw if we could put together a ride to even watch the game,” D’Ottavio explains.
With plans underway to try to get herself to Langley, she thought of an idea. Many of her teammates have old hockey gear in their homes. If she was unable to have her own equipment with her due to the flooding, what if her teammates could piece together a set for her?
“It was great,” she says. “I brought up the idea of getting some gear and everybody was just so on board with it and really wanted to see me on the ice, which was great because I really wanted to be on the ice and play with everybody. It was really awesome.”
Decked out in a set of hockey gear cobbled together from several teammates, the practicality of the idea hit when she stepped out on the ice.
“It was so awkward, and it was so weird,” D’Ottavio says. “Skating at first, I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. Different skates are so tough to get used to just to begin with, but ones that are already broken in and old skates, it was so tough.”
Despite the discomfort, she recorded an assist in the Rush’s 3-2 overtime win. With the game complete, the next challenge was how to return home. D’Ottavio and her mother joined her defence partner Jade Lore and Lore’s mother to see if they could find a way home without using the closed roads.
Their first thought was to drive to Pitt Meadows Airport, a regional airport about 32 kilometres from Vancouver International Airport, to see if they could find a small plane that could fly them home, but there was no availability.
“We didn’t even have it in mind, but we saw the helicopter service across the street and asked them if they had any availability,” she says. “It turned out that somebody had cancelled, or they just had room and they were generous enough to give us a ride.”
In her first helicopter ride, D’Ottavio had a birds-eye view to see devastating flooding in her community first-hand.
“It was crazy. I couldn’t even recognize roads. There’s a highway that cuts right through, we couldn’t even make out where the highway was. It was worse than I would have imagined,” she says.
Although the circumstances surrounding the historic storm were difficult, the generosity of those willing to help in the community was always present. Several hockey associations in surrounding areas helped those affected by the natural disaster. Dods says her family assisted with filling up sandbags at a nearby park.
“It felt cool seeing all these people coming together,” Dods says.
D’Ottavio is thankful for all the generous acts that helped her and her mother return home. As the city worked to repair the damages, she remembers the positivity the community had for those most affected.
“Everybody was rallying around the farmers and the people living in the floodplains that were affected and had to leave their homes,” D’Ottavio adds. “The pilot told us that a bunch of plane and helicopter services were giving people free rides across the water to get them home to their families or people that had just left for work in the morning and just couldn’t get home. It was really awesome to see.”
Although lots of the infrastructure damaged by the storm has been repaired, there are still signs of the flooding six months later. Once the roads in and out of town re-opened, D’Ottavio and Dods were happy to be back with the Rush on their road to the Esso Cup.
Host locations selected for 2025 Esso and TELUS Cups
Alberta and British Columbia to host Canada’s U18 national club championships
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April 30, 2024
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CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the host locations for Canada’s 2025 U18 national club championships, with the Esso Cup set for Lloydminster, Alberta, and the TELUS Cup returning west to the Fraser Valley in British Columbia.
From April 20-26, the Lloydminster Steelers of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) will welcome five regional champions to compete for Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship at the Centennial Civic Centre, marking the fifth time the Esso Cup has been hosted in Alberta and the first in the Border City.
The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) will make their national championship debut at the TELUS Cup from April 21-27 at the Chilliwack Coliseum, with Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship returning to British Columbia for the first time since 2017.
“Hosting a national championship is a tremendous undertaking, and we are grateful for the local organizing committees, Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey, for collaborating with our staff to host first-class events in Lloydminster and Chilliwack next spring,” said Pat McLaughlin, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy. “Canada’s U18 national club championships have seen some of the top athletes in our country compete before they’ve gone on to wear the Maple Leaf internationally, and we know hockey fans in Alberta and British Columbia will enjoy watching teams play for gold next spring.”
Fans can sign up now to receive ticket information about the 2025 Esso Cup and 2025 TELUS Cup as it becomes available, or become a Hockey Canada Insider and receive advanced access to tickets and other promotions.
“These tournaments are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the participants, families and fans, and thanks to the generous support of Esso and TELUS, we are excited to build on the legacy of both events in two outstanding hockey markets,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact for Hockey Canada. “We thank all communities that expressed interest in hosting one of these national championships next season and look forward to welcoming the best under-18 clubs in the country in the spring.”
At the 2024 Esso Cup, the Regina Rebels won their first national title in Vernon, B.C., while the Cantonniers de Magog became national champions for the second time at the 2024 TELUS Cup in Membertou, Nova Scotia. Both gold medal games were broadcast on TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada.
To learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Regina Rebels win 2024 Esso Cup
North York Storm takes home silver medal; Edmonton Jr. Oilers win bronze
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April 27, 2024
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VERNON, British Columbia –The Regina Rebels have won their first Esso Cup, defeating the North York Storm 2-1 in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon to win gold at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.
Berlin Lolacher (Pilot Butte, SK), who was named the top forward of the tournament, scored the opening goal midway through the second period, beating Storm netminder Jamie Sanford (Toronto, ON). Sanford proved tough to beat, stopping 47 of the 49 shots Regina fired her way. “This is an unbelievable feeling,” Lolacher said. “I don’t have words to describe this feeling. After the bronze medal last year, we had one goal: to win this tournament. And here we are. This is amazing.” The tournament’s most valuable player, Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK), scored the eventual game-winner just two minutes after Lolacher broke the deadlock.
"To go from bronze (in 2023) to gold was our only thought this week,” added Zablocki . “Saskatchewan is always known as a bit of an underdog but here we are, and there is no group of girls I would rather go to battle with. I love this team; these girls and this feeling is something we will always remember. I’m so proud of how hard we worked to get to this point and to call ourselves national champions… it’s special.”
Lily Paisley (Mount Albert, ON) brought the Storm within one with a late power-play goal, but Rebels netminder Hannah Tresek (Regina, SK) shut the door in the final minutes, making four saves as the clock wound down. Tresek finished with 26 saves.
Edmonton Jr. Oilers defeat Thompson-Okanagan Lakers to win bronze
Earlier in the day, Edmonton rebounded from a 4-1 loss to North York in the semifinals to win the bronze medal, defeating host Thompson-Okanagan 1-0 in overtime to secure the program's fifth Esso Cup bronze medal.
Captain Layla Matthew (Edmonton, AB) scored the game-winner just over four minutes into the extra frame.
Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe (Red Deer, AB) earned the shutout, making 12 saves. The Jr. Oilers, who finished in first place in the preliminary round, outshot the Lakers 35-12. Following the game, the Esso Cup award winners were announced: Top Goaltender – Jorja Burrows (New Glasgow, NS / Northern Selects) Top Defender – Ciara Lang (Edmonton, AB / Edmonton Jr. Oilers) Top Forward – Berlin Lolacher (Pilot Butte, SK / Regina Rebels) Most Sportsmanlike Player – Sydney Bowness (Toronto, ON / North York Storm) Esso Cup Scholarship – Lily Roberts (Vernon, BC / Thompson-Okanagan Lakers) Most Valuable Player – Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK / Regina Rebels)
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.
Carrying on her family name
Hockey is deeply rooted in the Dach family, and with Callie Dach competing at the Esso Cup, she’s continuing a family tradition of competing at a high level
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April 23, 2024
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Playing hockey on the outdoor rink was a rite of passage for Callie Dach. Now she gets to continue another Dach tradition—hockey at the highest level.
The 17-year-old is looking to help the Edmonton Jr. Oilers to an Esso Cup championship this week in Vernon, B.C.
“Going through this experience has been awesome and sharing it with all these girls is special,” Dach says.
Dach is a 5-foot-9 defender from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and is the younger sister to Kirby and Colton Dach, who both wore the Maple Leaf at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Kirby now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, while Colton—a Chicago Blackhawks prospect—spent this season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
Hockey has always been an important bonding opportunity for the Dach siblings, and the trio has spent hours on the backyard rink and the outdoor rink at the lake.
“Hockey helps me connect with my brothers and be a part of something together. It’s nice always having a shared interest with them,” Dach says. “Seeing them make it is a super proud moment for me and my family, to know they’ve made their dreams come true after all the hours they put into working for it.”
Dach first laced up her skates at a young age, playing organized hockey when she was five years old. Like many younger siblings, she wanted to be just like her older brothers.
“Always going to the rink and watching my brothers, it made me want to follow in their footsteps and be almost as good as them and compete against them in any way I could,” she says.
For parents Dale and Hillary, seeing their children have these experiences is a highlight, but it’s more than that—it's about the bigger picture of how hockey enriches their lives.
“It’s about belonging to a group that is working together for something. The accomplishments, the highs and the lows ... it gives you a lot of ways to learn later in life how to handle adversity and success in life,” Dale says. “Hockey has given them a lot of great avenues for meeting people. I played the game when I was younger and the connections and contacts that I have are lifelong, so it was a big part of my life and a big part of our family.”
The Edmonton Jr. Oilers are back at the Esso Cup after nearly a decade-long absence, having previously won three bronze medals as the Thunder. Dach and her teammates finished second in the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) with a 21-7-2 record with strong goaltending leading the way.
“I think we are very well-balanced, and everyone is there for the right reasons. We’ve done a really good job of buying into what we all believe in, and we have lots of culture and identity within the room—we share a special bond,” Dach says. “Playing hockey with all these girls has given me another family and is an outlet for me.”
Callie’s parents will be making the nine-hour trek to Vernon to cheer on the Jr. Oilers and would love to see the team have success after all the hard work their daughter has put into her craft.
“We are very proud of Callie and very excited to see how she and the team do at the Esso Cup,” Dale says. “You don’t get these opportunities every day—many families don’t get these opportunities—so the biggest thing is just to sit back and enjoy the ride and do the best you can and make sure you have fun with it.”
Playing hockey and being competitive come naturally to the Dach parents—both Dale and Hillary played sports competitively growing up. Dale played hockey and Hillary skied. Having their children grow up around sport wasn’t always about reaching the highest level, but more about effort.
“We’ve always taught our kids that no matter what you’re doing—whether it’s schoolwork, sports or working—you always put in the best effort,” Dale says.
Over the years, Dach has focused on improving her game and feels like she has made strides on both sides of the puck.
“I am very strong defensively. I like to go to work in the corners and get pucks outs,” she said. “On the offensive side, I like my shot.”
Callie is committed to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology next season and the Dach family will be there to support her in the next transition of her game.
“She’s very driven and we're just very proud of her and excited to watch what all things hold for her,” Dale says.
2022 Esso Cup: ONT vs. ATL (Semifinal)
The Durham West Lightning (ONT) take on the Northern Selects (ATL) in Game 17 of the 2022 Esso Cup
Road to the 2024 Esso Cup: North York Storm
The Ontario champions may be one of the youngest teams in Vernon, but they are aiming to make the most of their first national appearance
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April 20, 2024
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It is a tremendous feat to qualify for the Esso Cup, especially if you are competing against 51 other teams in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA).
After narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Esso Cup last year—losing in the gold medal game at OWHA Provincials to the eventual Esso Cup champion Stoney Creek Sabres—the North York Storm had another strong season that has led to their first appearance at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.
The Storm went 17-2-2 during the regular season to finish fourth in the OWHL Southern standings. After defeating the Central York Panthers, Toronto Aeros, Sudbury Lady Wolves and 2022 Esso Cup champion Durham West Lightning in the playoffs, the Storm edged the Stratford Aces 3-2 in a shootout to become OWHL Southern champions.
The momentum from the league playoffs carried into the provincial tournament, where the Storm allowed only four goals in an undefeated run to punch their ticket to the Esso Cup.
North York will be one of the youngest teams on the ice in Vernon, with an average age of 14.86 years old. However, Ontario teams have had great success in recent years. The last two winners, Stoney Creek and Durham West, hailed from Ontario, and the region has not finished lower than fourth place in tournament history.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
Ontario Women’s Hockey Association
Playdowns: 2-0-2 – 1st place in Region Q (tied Toronto Leaside Wildcats 2-2; defeated Etobicoke Dolphins 3-0; defeated Scarborough Sharks 4-0; tied Toronto Aeros 1-1) Preliminary round: 3-0-0 – 1st place in Group A (defeated Ancaster Avalanche 6-0; defeated Clarington Flames 3-0; defeated London Devilettes 4-0) Quarterfinal: defeated Sudbury Lady Wolves 3-1 Semifinal: defeated Waterloo Ravens 3-1 Final: defeated North Halton Twisters 5-2
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-T): 17-2-2 (4th in OWHL-Southern) Goals for: 77 (2nd in OWHL-Southern) Goals against: 35 (T-16th in OWHL-Southern) Longest winning streak: 9 (Dec. 9-Feb. 4)
Top 3 scorers: - Demi Lazarou – 13G 12A 25P - Anabella Van Berkel – 14G 7A 21P - Lily Paisley – 12G 7A 19P
PLAYOFFS
Record: 8-0-2 Goals for: 34 Goals against: 7
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
Road to the 2024 Esso Cup: Intrépide de l’Outaouais
After missing out on qualifying for the Esso Cup by one overtime goal last year, the Intrépide are back and ready to compete on the national stage for the first time
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April 19, 2024
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The Intrépide de l’Outaouais were an overtime goal away from going to the Esso Cup last year.
After finishing third in the regular season, Outaouais had the best record at the 2023 Coupe Chevrolet, going undefeated until the final, where they suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière.
But this year, the Intrépide came back stronger and better than ever.
Since it joined the Ligue de hockey d'excellence du Québec (LHEQ) in 2018-19, the team has slowly been climbing up the standings. This season, the Intrépide finished atop the LHEQ for the first time in team history with a 25-2-1 record.
The team carried that success from the regular season into the Coupe Chevrolet provincial championship, allowing just three goals in four games on the road to a rematch against Laurentides-Lanaudière in the final. This time, the Intrépide shut out the Étoiles 2-0 to earn a spot at the 2024 Esso Cup in Vernon—the first for Outaouais.
Laurence Lafleur helped to lead the Intrépide to the national stage; the 16-year-old was the LHEQ scoring leader this season with 42 goals and 59 points before adding four goals and nine points in the playoffs.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
Coupe Chevrolet Preliminary round: defeated As de Québec 2-1, defeated Amazones de Laval-Montréal 10-0 Quarterfinal: defeated Harfangs de Sherbrooke 3-1 Semifinal: defeated As de Québec 3-1 Final: defeated Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 2-0
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 25-2-1 (1st in LHEQ) Goals for: 130 (1st in LHEQ) Goals against: 43 (2nd in LHEQ) Longest winning streak: 11 (Jan. 21-March 31)
Top 3 scorers: - Laurence Lafleur – 42G 17A 59P (1st in LHEQ) - Kélia Gilbert – 15G 18A 33P (5th in LHEQ) - Geneviève Godin – 16G 15A 31P (6th in LHEQ)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 5-0 Goals for: 20 Goals against: 3
Top 3 scorers: - Laurence Lafleur – 4G 5A 9P - Maya de Beaumont– 4G 2A 6P - Kélia Gilbert – 2G 4A 6P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Gabrielle Brochu – Cégep Heritage Paige Dubeau – Dawson College Kélia Gilbert – Cégep Limoilou Geneviève Godin – Champlain College Laurence Lafleur – Champlain College Élyssa Lalonde – Champlain College Anabelle Legault – Cégep Heritage Anabelle Monfils – Dawson College Jade Poulin – Cégep Heritage Gabrielle Roy – John-Abbott College
2022 Esso Cup: WST vs. PAC (Semifinal)
The Notre Dame Hounds (WST) take on the Fraser Valley Rush (PAC) in Game 16 of the 2022 Esso Cup
Road to the 2024 Esso Cup: Northern Selects
The Atlantic champions continue to dominate in their region and are ready to return to the national stage for a third consecutive year
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April 18, 2024
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With an impactful offence and an effective defence, the Northern Selects remain a force to be reckoned with.
The Selects are back at the Esso Cup for a third consecutive year, looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. In Prince Albert, the Selects went 2-3 in the preliminary round before being blanked 3-0 by the eventual national champion Stoney Creek Sabres in the semifinals and falling 5-1 to the Regina Rebels in the bronze medal game.
Seven players return to Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship, including 15-year-old Kendall Doiron. The 2023 Esso Cup most sportsmanlike player led the Selects with 64 points (34-30—64) in 32 regular-season games, building on her strong 2022-23 (18-13—34 in 24 games).
Northern may have the most offensively talented roster of its three-year run. Doiron, Hali-Rose MacLean, Brooke Williams and Laci Boyd finished two-three-four-five in Maritime Major Female Hockey League (MMFHL), with Aylee Glenn coming eighth . In comparison, the Selects had two players in the top 10 last year and three during the 2021-22 season.
The Selects dropped only two games during the regular season, partially thanks to the fantastic goaltending duo of Jorja Burrows and Madeleine Kerr. This will be the third Esso Cup appearance for Burrows, who had a 17-2 record in the regular season along with a 1.15 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and five shutouts. The 17-year-old also represented Team Atlantic at the Women’s U18 National Championship last November alongside Team Canada netminder Rhyah Stewart. Kerr is a Selects rookie, but still made a large impact in the crease. She had a 12-0 record, 0.92 GAA, .947 save percentage and four shutouts during the regular season.
The Selects are looking to become the first Atlantic representatives to win hardware at the Esso Cup.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
Maritime Major Female Hockey League Nova Scotia semifinal: defeated Cape Breton Lynx 3-0 (12-1, 7-0, 6-0) Nova Scotia final: defeated Dartmouth Penguins 3-1 (2-3, 2-1, 5-0, 4-1)
Atlantic Regional Preliminary round: 3-0-1 – 2nd place (defeated Tri-Pen Ice 6-0, defeated Western Warriors 10-2, lost to Eastern Stars 1-0, defeated Western Flames 4-0) Championship: defeated Eastern Stars 5-2
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-T): 28-2-1 (1st in MMFHL) Goals for: 173 (1st in MMFHL) Goals against: 35 (1st in MMFHL) Longest winning streak: 19 (Sept. 23-Dec. 16)
Top 3 scorers: - Kendall Doiron – 34G 30A 64P (2nd in MMFHL) - Hali-Rose MacLean – 33G 22A 55P (3rd in MMFHL) - Brooke Williams – 21G 24A 45P (4th in MMFHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 10-2 Goals for: 64 Goals against: 10
Top 3 scorers: - Kendall Doiron – 14G 7A 21P - Hali-Rose MacLean – 11G 9A 20P - Laci Boyd – 6G 14A 20P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2023 – Northern Selects | 4th place | 2-3 | 13GF 19GA 2022 – Northern Selects | 4th place | 2-3 | 14GF 12GA 2018 – Northern Selects | 5th place | 1-4 | 12GF 19GA
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Jorja Burrows – St. Francis Xavier University
© Darryl Gershman/Ice Wave Media
Road to the 2024 Esso Cup: Regina Rebels
A combination of youth and experience could lead to further success on the national stage for the West Region champions and reigning Esso Cup bronze medallists
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April 17, 2024
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Bronze medallists a year ago in Prince Albert, the Regina Rebels are returning to the Esso Cup hungry to become champions.
After consistently finishing at or near the top of the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) since 2018-19, this will be Regina’s fourth appearance at the Women’s U18 National Club Championship in tournament history. Only dropping three games during the regular season, the Rebels are undefeated since Nov. 24, riding a 26-game win streak into Vernon.
The Rebels are loaded with young talent for the second year in the row. There are eight first-year players on the roster: five forwards, one defender and one goaltender. The 2022-23 edition of the Rebels had nine first-years, and 12 are returning from last year’s Esso Cup.
Regina is an offensively strong team, led by National Women’s Under-18 Team forward Stryker Zablocki. After recording two goals and five assists in her U18 Women’s Worlds debut, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, native finished as the SFU18AAAHL scoring leader. Zablocki had 40 goals and 25 assists in the regular season, then added 11 goals and six helpers during the playoffs.
However, the offence is not limited to Zablocki. Berlin Lolacher (15-25—40) and Brooklyn Nimegeers (10-30—40) finished in the top five of league scoring, joined by Avery Gottselig, Addison Greve, Kadence Dansereau and Ashley Breitkreuz in the top 20.
Between the pipes, the Rebels have the best goaltending duo in Saskatchewan. Returning netminder Hannah Tresek topped the SFU18AAAHL with a 17-1 record, 1.43 goals-against average and .940 save percentage, while rookie Adriana Bashnick finished third with a 10-2 record, 1.84 GAA and .915 save percentage.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League Semifinal: defeated Battlefords Sharks 2-0 (5-4, 5-4) Final: defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2-0 (7-3, 4-1)
West Regional Championship: defeated Winnipeg Ice 2-0 (4-3 OT, 3-1)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-OTW-OTL-L): 26-1-0-3 (1st in SFU18AAAHL) Goals for: 151 (1st in SFU18AAAHL) Goals against: 50 (1st in SFU18AAAHL) Longest winning streak: 20 (Nov. 24-March 4)
Top 3 scorers: - Stryker Zablocki – 40G 25A 65P (1st in SFU18AAAHL) - Berlin Lolacher – 15G 25A 40P (4th in SFU18AAAHL) - Brooklyn Nimegeers – 10G 30A 40P (5th in SFU18AAAHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 6-0 Goals for: 28 Goals against: 16
Top 3 scorers: - Stryker Zablocki – 11G 6A 17P - Berlin Lolacher – 4G 5A 9P - Brooklyn Nimegeers – 1G 4A 5P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2023 – Regina Rebels | bronze medal | 3-2 | 21GF 16GA 2013 – Regina Rebels | 4th place | 3-2 | 17GF 11GA 2010 – Regina Rebels | 4th place | 3-2 | 12GF 10GA
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Ashley Breitkreuz – Trinity Western University Avery Gottselig – University of Saskatchewan Emily Karpan – Trinity Western University Berlin Lolacher – Mercyhurst University Brooklyn Nimegeers – Princeton University Stryker Zablocki – Northeastern University
2022 Esso Cup: HST vs. ATL (Preliminary)
The Prince Albert Bears (HST) take on the Northern Selects (ATL) in Game 15 of the 2022 Esso Cup
Road to the 2024 Esso Cup: Edmonton Jr. Oilers
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers are back at the big dance on the back of lights-out goaltending
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April 16, 2024
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Once a fixture of the Esso Cup, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers are back at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship after nearly a decade-long absence.
From the inception of the Esso Cup in 2009 until 2015, the Jr. Oilers, known then as the Thunder, made a record seven consecutive appearances. The run included trips to the gold medal game in 2011 and 2014, and bronze-medal finishes in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Nine years later, they’re back. So, how did they do it? They had a fantastic regular season, finishing second in the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) with a record of 21-7-2 and winning their last eight games. They were also second-best in goal scoring with 104 in 30 games and co-led the AFHL by allowing only 41.
Powering the Jr. Oilers were forward Daniella Martorana (15-18—33) and defender Ella Lloyd (17-14—31), who finished atop the AFHL in points among all blue-liners.
At the back end, Ella Dunham-Fox (7-3, 1.14 GAA, .944 SV%) and Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe (12-3, 1.15 GAA, .943 SV%) were sensational. The duo finished one-two in goals-against average and save percentage, and Gould-Sharpe’s five shutouts put her third among netminders.
The Jr. Oilers cruised through the preliminary round at the Alberta provincial championship with a perfect 3-0 record, and a nail-biting 2-1 win over the Red Deer Chiefs – the only team to finish above Edmonton in the regular season – secured an AFHL title. Edmonton allowed just four goals in four playoff games.
That championship came with a trip to the national tournament when the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers – the Esso Cup hosts – clinched the B.C. Elite Hockey League title, sending the Jr. Oilers to Vernon as Pacific representatives.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
Alberta Female Hockey League Preliminary round: 1st place – defeated Calgary Fire 3-1, defeated St. Albert Slash 2-1, defeated Red Deer Chiefs 3-1) Championship game: defeated Red Deer Chiefs 2-1
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 21-7-2 (2nd in AFHL) Goals for: 104 (2nd in AFHL) Goals against: 41 (tied for 1st in AFHL) Longest winning streak: 8 (Feb. 2-25) Top 3 scorers: - Daniella Martorana – 15G 18A 33P (3rd in AFHL) - Ella Lloyd – 17G 14A 31P (4th in AFHL) - Tayla Lamabe – 15G 11A 26P (6th in AFHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 4-0 Goals for: 10 Goals against: 4 Top 3 scorers: - Claire Carruthers – 2G 3A 5P - Ciara Lang – 2G 1A 3P - Tayla Lamabe – 2G 0A 2P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2015 – Edmonton Thunder | 5th place | 2-3 | 9GF 10GA 2014 – Edmonton Thunder | silver medal | 3-4 | 16GF 18GA 2013 – Edmonton Thunder | bronze medal | 6-1 | 23GF 18GA 2012 – Edmonton Thunder | bronze medal | 3-4 | 15GF 12GA 2011 – Edmonton Thunder | silver medal | 6-1 | 26GF 12GA 2010 – Edmonton Thunder | bronze medal | 3-4 | 17GF 18GA 2009 – Edmonton Thunder | 4th place | 2-4 | 17GF 14GA
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS Claire Carruthers – St. Francis Xavier University Callie Dach – Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Aeryn Flanagan – University of Saskatchewan Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe – Lakeland College Camryn Karaki – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Ella Lloyd – Northeastern University Layla Matthew – Clarkson University Riley Scorgie – Cornell University Maren Stachniak – SUNY Cortland
Road to the 2024 Esso Cup: Thompson-Okanagan Lakers
Even after winning their way to the Esso Cup, the hosts still feel like they have something to prove
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April 15, 2024
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The Thompson-Okanagan Lakers didn’t just get to the Esso Cup because they’re the hosts. They earned their way to the big dance.
After going 22-8-1-1 in the regular season – good enough for second place in the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) – and sweeping the Greater Vancouver Comets in the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers joined an exclusive group of hosts who won their league titles by going on the road and vanquishing the two-time defending champion – and two-time Esso Cup silver medallist – Fraser Valley Rush in the BCEHL final.
That means they didn’t have to play the Pacific Regional series against the Edmonton Jr. Oilers, sending the Alberta champions straight through to the Esso Cup as Pacific representatives and giving the Lakers almost a full month off ahead of Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.
Thompson-Okanagan was all about scoring by committee during the regular season, putting four players in the top 10 of BCEHL scoring – Alexandra Recsky (10-21—31), Emma Kohl (18-10—28), Lily Roberts (11-12—23) and Holly Magnus (8-13—21), while Denali Forsyth (1.70) Reese Sliskovic (1.87) both fashioned goals-against averages under 2.00 to backstop the Lakers.
Magnus stepped up in the playoffs with a goal and four assists (her only goal was the OT winner in Game 1 of the semifinal series against the Comets), and Roberts scored two of the biggest goals of the season, netting the lone marker in Game 2 of the final as the Lakers staved off elimination and opening the scoring in Game 3 to send Thompson-Okanagan on its way.
The Lakers are staring at a couple of opportunities for history when the Esso Cup begins April 21 – they can become the first host team to claim the national title and the first team from British Columbia.
HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON
British Columbia Elite Hockey League Semifinal: defeated Greater Vancouver Comets 2-0 (3-2 OT, 4-1) Final: defeated Fraser Valley Rush 2-1 (2-3, 1-0, 2-1)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-T-OTL): 22-8-1-1 (2nd in BCEHL) Goals for: 91 (2nd in BCEHL) Goals against: 59 (2nd in BCEHL) Longest winning streak: 7 (Nov. 18-Jan. 5) Top 3 scorers: - Alexandra Recsky – 10G 21A 31P (4th in BCEHL) - Emma Kohl – 18G 10A 28P (5th in BCEHL) - Lily Roberts – 11G 12A 23P (9th in BCEHL)
PLAYOFFS Record: 4-1 Goals for: 12 Goals against: 7 Top 3 scorers: - Holly Magnus – 1G 4A 5P - Kilah Hodder – 0G 5A 5P - Emma Kohl – 3G 1A 4P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS Holly Magnus – University of Alberta Lily Roberts – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Hannah Robertson – Dalhousie University Reese Sliskovic – Trinity Western University
2022 Esso Cup: WST vs. QUE (Preliminary)
The Notre Dame Hounds (WST) take on the Remparts du Richelieu (QUE) in Game 14 of the 2022 Esso Cup
'You’re always fighting for them’
For more than two decades, Braden Robertson has volunteered his time and given financial support to ensure the growth of girls' hockey in Vernon
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April 15, 2024
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For more than two decades, Braden Robertson has been a stalwart figure in the Vernon, B.C., hockey community.
Whether it’s been coaching minor hockey, helping his daughter’s hockey team or in his current role as co-chair of the Esso Cup host committee, Robertson has dedicated countless hours giving back to the game he loves.
“I started off playing minor hockey like every other Canadian kid and just evolved from there,” Robertson says about his passion for volunteering.
After his playing days were over, Robertson got involved with coaching teams in the Vernon area in 2001. He took a few years off when his daughters Myah and Hannah were born but got back behind the bench when Hannah began playing hockey.
“Once my daughter started playing hockey, I got back into coaching. Head coach, assistant coach, I did all of that for quite a while,” Robertson says.
However, as Hannah, who will participate in the 2024 Esso Cup with the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers, grew older and began playing at a higher level, Robertson took a step back from coaching. He instead found other ways to stay involved, working to help secure sponsorships for the Lakers over the past couple of seasons.
“When your kids get older and they play at a higher level, they have higher coaching, more than my experience,” Robertson says. “You’ve always been a part of the game, and now you’re like ‘Where can I fit in, how can I help out?’ and that’s my part, helping out wherever is needed.”
And that’s exactly what he’s done. This past summer, Roberston built a dressing room for the Lakers inside Kal Tire Place. A business owner and contractor by trade, Robertson covered the majority of the construction costs — close to $7,000 — and secured sponsorship funding to cover whatever was outstanding.
“I wish we could have done this sooner,” he says. “It leaves a bit of a legacy on my behalf of the sport that I love playing and watching and it was nice to give back. It's nice that they have a home instead of having to use a broom closet or something. They now have something that they take pride in and that’s awesome. You’re always fighting for them.”
Robertson has also led numerous sponsorship initiatives over the years, raising thousands of dollars for the Lakers. Robertson says he’s proud of how the people of Vernon have come together over the years to ensure the girls have a chance.
“It obviously pays some of the bills that it helps families out the parents out, lowers the cost, brings the community in with the team,” he says. “I can’t say enough about the community I live in. Their mindset with kids and sports here is huge. It’s a very giving community. We’ve surrounded ourselves with very good people. We love giving back and I do too.” Kevin Bathurst, who shares Esso Cup co-chair duties, says without Robertson, the Lakers dressing room never gets built.
“This team finally has a home and it’s been a long time coming,” says Bathurst, who is also the executive director of hockey operations with the Greater Vernon Minor Hockey Association. “I think it is a legacy that Braden can hang his hat on. That dressing room is going to be a mainstay in the community for a very long time. The girls can walk down the hallway where the dressing rooms are at Kal Tire Place and see a Lakers logo, not just a Vernon Vipers logo. It’s through some of Braden’s hard work that they’ve got the recognition and the facilities that these girls deserve.”
Today, Robertson serves alongside Bathurst as they work to ensure Vernon and Kal Tire Place are ready to host Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship. He’s excited for the girls who will be participating in the tournament and the impact the event will have on the broader community — profits will be going towards the creation of a post-secondary scholarship fund and a grassroots development fund that will support girls’ hockey in the region.
“I'm looking forward to all the kids coming. Hopefully we put a good product out there and they enjoy it because this is one of the biggest tournaments these girls are ever going to play in,” Robertson says. “We are giving back to the community through scholarships, and we have a grassroots program that will help young girls get into hockey that maybe couldn’t afford it. It will help them out with the bills, whether it is hockey equipment or team fees, league fees or whatnot.”
Bathurst says Robertson has been the “flagship volunteer” for girls’ hockey in the Vernon area and that his dedication and commitment to the game is unparalleled.
“You couldn't find a better volunteer and champion of female hockey than Braden,” says Bathurst. “He really is an example for many of us to follow in terms of the growth of the female game.”
At the end of the day, Robertson says giving back to the game he loves so much isn’t just about hockey, it’s about shaping the next generation of adults and having a positive impact early in life.
“It’s about trying to create good human beings, members of society that can move on and work hard,” he says. “It’s about finding out what they are good at. It’s about being a good human being and I think hockey and all sports are that way. Sometimes people lean too much towards the sport itself, but we are raising these young adults that will have to contribute one day.”
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