Stoney Creek Sabres win Esso Cup after third-period comeback

By Logan Lehmann

After going undefeated during the tournament, the Stoney Creek Sabres have won the 2023 Esso Cup.

The Ontario representatives erased a two-goal deficit in a back-and-forth third period to capture their program’s first national title with a 5-4 victory over the Pacific’s Fraser Valley Rush in the Canadian under-18 women’s hockey final in Prince Albert.

Stoney Creek head coach Taylor Abbott shared what he said to his team in the second intermission after going into the third down two.

“I just told the girls, ‘Let’s have fun this third period no matter what happens,’ ” he said. “I said, ‘If we get one, then they might start getting on their heels and we might get going,’ so the girls came out and they executed.”

Tournament MVP Madison Burr scored the game-winning goal with less than 90 seconds to play in the third period.

“I just knew it was a tie game and there was not much time left and I saw Caileigh Tiller put that puck up and I saw the puck and I was like, ‘(I) might as well take it up the ice and see what happens,’ ” she said. “I angled (the defencemen) and just put it on the net.

“I’m so glad it ended up like this,” she continued. “I wanted it to be a close game. It makes it so much more exciting and I just can’t believe it even happened.”

Burr finished the game with a team-high two goals and one assist and finished as the tournament leader in points with 15 (eight goals, seven assists).

Along with Burr, Peyton Anzivino, Ashlyn Carter, and Maren Capannelli also found the back of the net Sunday.

Aynsley D’Ottavio and Leah Barnard both had a goal and an assist in the game for Fraser Valley, while Jade Lore and Hannah Dods also lit the lamp.

Tara Bach and Mya Castrillo combined for 24 saves for the Sabres, while Rebecca Noble turned aside 20 shots for the Rush.

The Rush was the first to get on the board and wasted no time doing so, scoring just over three minutes into the first period. Cooper connected with Barnard to open the scoring and to get the Pacific reps on the board.

Fast forward midway into the second and the game was tied. Browne led the odd-man rush for the Sabres and fed a cross-ice pass to Capannelli, who tapped it home to tie it up

The Rush reclaimed the lead later in the frame off a Leroux shot. Her shot was stopped by Bach and the puck came back out right in front for Lore, who found a hole to put Fraser Valley back out in front.

A short time later and the Blue and Gold struck again on a similar play. Rubin’s shot was stopped, but the rebound came right back out to D’Ottavio, who put it into the empty cage and doubled the Rush’s lead. The goal ended Bach’s night as she was subbed out for Castrillo for the third period.

Stoney Creek caught the Rush on its heels to start the final frame, leading to a Sabres goal. Pressure in the offensive zone led to Tiller getting the puck and connecting with Carter in tight to cut the deficit to one.

The Green and Gold kept rolling and managed to tie it midway through the period. Burr collected the puck at centre ice and walked through the Rush defence before pulling off the toe drag and sniping it wide side to tie the game back up at three.

A short time after, the Sabres took the lead. A series of shots by Stoney Creek were stopped in front, but Anzivino managed to squeak one through the five hole of Noble making it 4-3.

But, the Rush wasn’t going to go down without a fight. Less than a minute later, Barnard picked the pocket of a Sabres player and broke into the Stoney Creek end on a two-on-one. Barnard played give-and-go with Dods before going wide to knot the game at four.

However, the dream of gold for the Rush came crashing down. With under 90 seconds to play, Burr split the defence for a breakaway and scored an incredible game-winning goal to give the Sabres their first Esso Cup title.

It was Fraser Valley’s second consecutive silver medal at the tournament.