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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

so close

U18AAA Sutter Fund Chiefs fall to Fraser Valley on road to Esso Cup

Apr 15, 2023 | 11:12 AM

The U18AAA Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs put up a valiant effort, but could not beat the Fraser Valley Rush last weekend for a berth in the 2023 Esso Cup.

The Chiefs, who won their provincial title a couple weeks ago, squared off against the B.C. champion Rush in a best-of-three series played at Red Deer’s Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Game one on April 7 went to the Rush in a 3-0 victory, putting the Chiefs in a must-win scenario on April 8.

Unfortunately, they fell 5-2.

In game two, Red Deer was in it most of the way.

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Nadia Lavoie scored for Red Deer just four seconds after the Rush took a one-goal lead early in the first period, and it was tied 1-1.

The Rush regained the lead before the period was out, but Rylee Mcleod equalized again at 7:24 of the second.

Fraser Valley scored twice more in the middle frame, and sealed the deal in the third.

Red Deer outshot Fraser Valley 29-24.

In game two, Ashtyn Berthiaume, who stopped 14 of 18 shots, came out for Taya Christie in the second; Christie stopped five of the six shots she faced.

The series win for Fraser Valley sends them to the Esso Cup national championship at the end of April in Prince Albert.