Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs win Esso Cup

Scoring summary

Red Deer got out to an early lead in the gold medal game, when Sylvan Lake’s Macy Morrison scored just 4:43 in, assisted by Lena Loomer.

Also from Sylvan Lake, Reece Lacina, assisted by Addison Shaw, then made it 2-0 Chiefs at the 8:49 mark of the opening frame, and it seemed Red Deer was off to the races.

At 11:48 of the second, however, Olivia De Caria cut the deficit to just one for Stoney Creek.

Then with 2:48 on the clock in the second, Ryleigh O’Brien equalized for the Sabres.

In the third, De Caria would strike again, just 95 seconds in.

But Bentley’s own Jensyn Stephenson, with assists to Bria Hull and Peyton Stephenson, knotted things up at three at 4:41 of the third.

Both teams failed to capitalize on a power play opportunity in the final stanza as well.

Just 3:50 into overtime, Jensyn Stephenson made history, winning the Esso Cup for Red Deer on an unassisted effort.

“Honestly, I just flashed back to the whole season,” Stephenson told Hockey Canada, after scoring the winner. “Everything we’ve been through and such incredible people I’ve been able to do it with, alongside 19 of my best friends, I was just thinking ‘Yeah, this is it, this is our time.’”

Stephenson had a tournament-leading eight goals and five assists in seven games.

Between the pipes

In goal, Sylvan Lake’s Brylee Hull got the call for this one. She finishes the tournament with a record of five wins and zero losses.

The Sabres’ Emma Forrest finishes the tourney with two wins and two losses.

In-game stats

Red Deer went 0/1 on the power play in the gold medal final, while Stoney Creek was 0/5.

The final shots tally was 31-30 for Red Deer; Stoney Creek had none in the short overtime.

Hockey Canada announced Saturday, before the gold and bronze medal games, its award and scholarship winners.

Best goaltender honours went to the aforementioned Brylee Hull.

by Josh Hall

Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs win Esso Cup

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