The Thompson Okanagan Lakers are peaking just in time for the national championship Esso Cup.
The U18 AAA female girls hockey team defeated the Fraser Valley Rush in a best-of-three series to decide the B.C. championship over the March 22 weekend.
The Lakers finished second in the BCEHL regular season, just two points behind the Rush and would meet in the finals for the second straight year.
Game one, hosted in Langley, the Lakers opened up the scoring by virtue of a power play marker from Calleja Misson, assisted by Kilah Hodder. The Rush responded with two goals, pulling away with a 2-1 lead early into the third. Alex Recsky then scored a beauty assisted by Lily Roberts and Felicia Girardo, to tie the game up for the Lakers. Unfortunately, Fraser Valley’s Hannah Dods scored with 3:42 left in the third, to give her squad a 3-2 victory and a series lead.
Game two, Thompson Okanagan would stymie all offensive attacks from the Rush, winning 1-0. Lily Robers scored the lone goal, while Reese Sliskovic received the shutout.
The winner-take-all game three (on Sunday, March 24) was a nervy battle. The Lakers would strike twice, from Lily Roberts and Emma Deleurme and while the Rush would cut into their deficit, Lakers goaltender Sliskovic helped shut the door, in a 2-1 victory.
Now, all eyes turn to Kal Tire Place, from April 21-27, with the Esso Cup. The Lakers are hosting, as seven other teams (along with the Rush) will descend into Vernon to fight for rights to be crowned national champions.
Tickets to the week-long showcase can be purchased at ticketseller.ca/tickets/event/2024-esso-cup.
If interested in volunteering, visit trustevent.com.
The tentative Esso Cup schedule for the Lakers is as follows:
- Sunday April 21 at 7p.m. vs. Atlantic champion
- Monday April 22 at 7 p.m. vs Edmonton Jr Oilers
- Tuesday April 23 at 5 p.m. vs Ontario champion
- Wednesday April 24 at 10 a.m. vs Western champion
- Thursday April 25 at 7 p.m. vs Quebec champion
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