2009 National Women's Under-18 Championship

MANITOBA UPSETS LAST YEAR’S SILVER MEDALLISTS

SURREY, B.C. – Manitoba and Quebec appeared to be fairly evenly matched on the ice Wednesday, but it was the team from western Canada that managed to pull off a 2-1 win in the second game of this week’s national championship.

Christine Bestland (Brunkild, Man.) contributed a goal and an assist to give her team the boost it needed to beat last year’s silver medalists. It was a bit of a comeback for Team Manitoba, who settled for bronze at the 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championship in Napanee, Ont.

But it was Quebec to kick off the action, with a goal by Laurie Mercier (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.) at 3:32 in the first period, on passes from Cassandra Poudrier (Terrebonne, Que.) and Abbey Frazer (Hudson, Que.).

Other than a handful of penalties, that would be the last number Team Quebec would put on the scoreboard at the South Surrey Arena on Wednesday.

Bestland tied up the score with help from Brandi Pollock (Virden, Man.) with a minute and a half left in the first, while Meghan Dufault scored the game winner about midway through the second on Bestland’s pass.

Team Manitoba next faces off against fellow westerners Team Alberta for the second game of the day Thursday (1 p.m. PT) and Team Quebec will try for its first win of the tournament in the late game (8 p.m. PT).