It’s already been a historic season so why not add one more to the record books.
The provincial and regional champion Rocky Mountain Raiders set course for the Esso Cup next week where they’ll look to become the first team from the Pacific Region to bring home the national Female Midget AAA title.
“We’re just going to bring all of what we’ve got to nationals,” said Raiders forward Lacey DiMaulo, from Okotoks. “And hope for the best.”
The Alberta champs made quick work of their British Columbia counterparts to win the Pacific region crown.
Rocky Mountain polished off consecutive 3-0 victories over the Northern Capitals to sweep the Mac’s Midget Tournament champions in the best-of-three series.
First-time league and regional representatives, the Raiders go in wide eyed to The Esso Cup which runs from April 17 to 23 in Weyburn.
“To make it to nationals it’s a really big deal,” said Raiders blueliner Ava Thiessen, from DeWinton. “It’s really exciting, it’s the best teams in Canada.”
The Raiders open their bid in the six-team tournament on April 17 against Ontario’s Brantford Ice Cats. The teams with the top four records in round-robin advance to the playoff round and compete for spots in the bronze and gold medal games on April 23.
Alberta and the Pacific region representatives have claimed the silver the past two seasons, the Edmonton Thunder and Red Deer Chiefs, with wild-rose province teams earning three silver and four bronze medals in the nine-year history of the event.
For more information on the tournament go to hockeycanada.ca
Here’s how the rest of the field stacks up.
Weyburn Gold Wings
The host team will be looking for a repeat performance this time in their own backyard.
After Saskatchewan’s Weyburn Gold Wings won the Esso Cup in 2014 in Hamilton, the Wings will be much more of an underdog this go around.
Weyburn finished just fourth in the eight team Saskatchewan Midget Female Hockey League with a mark of 15-9-3 and saw their playoff lives run out at the hands of Saskatoon.
Saskatoon Stars
The region boasting the most wins in Esso Cup history will be showcasing Stars.
The Saskatoon Stars claimed the Central Region banner with a convincing two-game sweep over Manitoba’s Yellowhead Chiefs.
The Stars were the class of the Saskatchewan Midget Female Hockey League in 2015-16, posting a record of 22-4-2 and putting up a goal differential of +70.
The Stars were bronze medallists at last year’s Esso Cup.
Brantford Ice Cats
Representing the hometown of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is never easy.
The freshly-minted Ontario champions are doing everything they can to hold down the mantle after dispatching the Whitby Wolves and Toronto Aeros en route to the provincial banner. The title snaps a two-year streak of provincial championships for the Sudbury Lady Wolves, the defending Esso Cup titleholders.
Historically, Ontario has been the most prolific region with a tournament high seven medals in its nine years of existence.
Metro Boston Pizza
The Atlantic Region’s representatives are back on the national stage for the third time.
The Halifax-based Metro squad beat out the top-seed East Hants Penguins to win the provincial title before moving on to edge out the New Brunswick champion Moncton Rockets by a 4-0 count. The Halifax team allowed a league-low 25 goals against during the 24-game regular season in Nova Scotia. The Atlantic Region has yet to win the Esso Cup title.
L’Express du Richelieu
Perhaps the greatest unknown entering the competition hails from La Belle Province. Quebec, which has been in and out of the tournament and not sent a representative every season, has just one medal in the history of the Esso Cup. Its LHFDQ North won the competition in 2013.
The Richelieu team skated to the best regular season mark in Ligue Hockey Féminin de Développement du Québec with a 19-3 record along with a +51 goal differential.
