2012 Esso Cup

NETMINDER ST-JEAN STEALS THE SHOW, SAGUENAY SLIDES PAST EDMONTON IN SHOOTOUT

by Geordie Carragher

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Coming into today’s game at 0-3, the Rebelles de Saguenay-Lac St-Jean (Quebec) knew they had to win to have any shot at advancing to the medal round at the 2012 Esso Cup.
 
Fortunately for them, they went out and did it.

Media Gallery | Buy photos at HockeyCanadaImages.ca

Emy St-Jean (St-Bruno, Que.) stole the show, making 47 saves, and Claudia Dubois (Chicoutimi, Que.) notched the winning goal to keep Saguenay’s playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific) at the CARI Complex.
 
It was Edmonton’s second shootout loss of the tournament, having lost 1-0 to the Pembina Valley Hawks (West) in their opening game.
 
The Edmonton Thunder controlled much of the game, showing why they’re the reigning Esso Cup silver medallists. They maintained pressure on Saguenay throughout the game, but St-Jean and the rest of the Rebelles were equal to the task, making several key saves throughout the game to stay in it.
 
Edmonton opened the scoring just over halfway through the first period, as Amy Boucher (Edmonton, Alta.) beat St-Jean with a nice shot. But the Saguenay goaltender was unbeatable from there, making a number of crucial saves to stymie the Edmonton shooters.
 
Saguenay picked up its offence late in the second period, as Dubois skated in and fired a wrist shot past Edmonton netminder Chloe Sanderson (Edmonton, Alta.) with four seconds remaining in the period, to tie the game up at one-apiece.
 
Edmonton had a golden opportunity to win it in the third, as they were awarded a penalty shot with seven minutes remaining in the third. However, Jessica Sekulic (Edmonton, Alta.) lost an edge as she was coming in on St-Jean, never getting the shot off.
 
St-Jean continued to perform between the posts, making 24 of her saves in the third period and extra frame, and coming up big in the shootout by shutting down Kelsie Lang (Edmonton, Alta.), Sasha Lutz (Edmonton, Alta.) and Jessica Healey (Edmonton, Alta.). Dubois sealed the victory by scoring on Saguenay’s first attempt in the shootout.
 
Both teams find themselves in must-win situations Thursday, the final day of preliminary action at the 2012 Esso Cup. Saguenay will face the host Capital District Cyclones at 7:30 p.m. AT, while Edmonton takes to the ice at 12 p.m. AT against Halifax Metro Boston Pizza (Atlantic), who have lost back-to-back games after opening with back-to-back victories.

Order photos from the 2012 Esso Cup at www.HockeyCanadaImages.ca

Penalties:
   03:19 PAC 18 Sasha Lutz (Hooking)
   10:55 PAC 4 Brooke Peden (Roughing)
   14:03 QUE 7 Marie-Pier Lemieux (Slashing)

Penalties:
   15:16 PAC 7 Jessica Healey (Hooking)

Penalties:
   02:29 PAC 16 Mikaeli Cavell (Tripping)
   04:59 QUE   (Too Many Men)
   11:35 PAC 7 Jessica Healey (Bodychecking)
   18:22 PAC 13 Amy Boucher (Bodychecking)
   18:31 QUE 5 Andréa Bélanger (Bodychecking)

Goals:
   None

Penalties:
   None