2008 National Women's Under-18 Championship

JENNER SNIPES TO END BATTLE OF ONTARIO

NAPANEE, ON – Back and forth they went, all game long. As quickly as Ontario Red would get a chance, Ontario Blue would come back the other way.

In the end, though, Red beat Blue in the Battle of Ontario at the 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championship on Wednesday night at the Strathcona Paper Centre. Brianne Jenner (Oakville, ON/Mississauga Chiefs, CWHL) scored with 47 seconds left in the 10-minute overtime period as Red edged Blue 2-1 in front of a packed house in Napanee.

Jamie Lee Rattray (Ottawa, ON/Ottawa Senators, PWHL) made a great pass from behind the net to Jenner, who flipped the puck over Ontario Blue goaltender Jenesica Drinkwater (Brantford, ON/Stoney Creek Sabres, PWHL). Jenner’s teammates immediately flooded on to the ice to congratulate their captain.

The teams played 40 minutes of goal-free hockey, but it wasn’t for a lack of chances. Ontario Blue’s Drinkwater and Red’s Cassie Seguin (Ingleside, ON/Ottawa Senators, PWHL) made several impressive saves to keep the game scoreless through two periods.

In the third, Ontario Red took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Casandra Langan (Chatham, ON/London Devilettes, PWHL), a similar goal to that of Jenner’s, with Langan finishing a play set up by Rattray. Just over five minutes later, Ontario Blue tied the game when Bree Polci (London, ON/Toronto Aeros, PWHL) jammed a puck past Seguin.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, with Ontario Red facing Team Atlantic and Ontario Blue taking on Saskatchewan. Ontario Red entered this year’s tournament as four-time defending champion.