LHFDQ Nord score five straight in impressive 6-3 semifinal win over Regina Rebels

by Lucas Scott

BURNABY, B.C. – LHFDQ Nord (Quebec) scored five straight goals and withstood a late game onslaught to defeat the Regina Rebels (West) 6-3 on Friday afternoon at Bill Copeland Sports Centre, advancing to Saturday’s gold medal game at the 2013 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship.

The potent Quebec offense received scoring from six different skaters, including three in the second period, and the last coming shorthanded off the stick of Vyckie Gelinas (Loungueuil, Que.), in what would hold up as the game-winner.

“It was a nice play (for our) team; it was a key play and a good goal,” Gelinas, who also added an assist and was named Quebec player of the game, told reporters following the game.

After a fifth LHFDQ Nord goal to start the third, most would expect Regina to throw in the towel, but the Rebels continued to pour on the pressure right up to the final whistle.

Regina made things interesting with just over 10 minutes to play, scoring two goals a 1:12 apart, before adding a third in the final minutes, but would ultimately fall short of the comeback when Quebec restored the three-goal lead with 90 seconds to play.

Regina’s Emma Waldenberger (Moose Jaw, Sask.) opened the scoring for the Rebels for her team-leading eighth point. Many of the players on the team representing the Western region created chances, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.

“We just couldn’t really get a bounce, I mean we hit two crossbars and a post,” Waldenberger, who hit two posts herself, said after the game. “I think we showed good character in the third to not give up.”

The Rebels fired 32 pucks on net and will quickly regroup and set their sights on claiming Regina’s first medal at a national tournament in Saturday’s bronze medal game.

“Regina’s never been (in a medal game) before, so to win and take third in Canada is still a great position,” Waldenberger said.

Quebec forward Valérie Audet (St-Bruno, Que.) also had a goal to bring her tournament-leading total to 12 points, but was quick to credit her teammates for the success.

“We play as a team, we work as a team and make great passes, (have) great execution and we really work hard,” Audet said of her team’s recent scoring outburst.

With a win in Saturday’s final, LHFDQ Nord would take home the province’s first gold medal and while quite an honour, Audet said there is still a lot of work to be done.

“It would be amazing, but we need to work hard for 60 minutes, not just 40 minutes, and we need to play with intensity as a team,” she said of how the Quebec reps have to prepare for Saturday’s big game.

The LHFDQ Nord will face the winner of Friday’s second semifinal, between the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific) and North Bay Ice Boltz (Ontario) on Saturday, with the puck dropping at 6 p.m. PT, and the game airing live on TSN, official broadcasters of Hockey Canada.

Join the 2013 Esso Cup conversation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HC_EssoCup. Better yet, be a part of the action live at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in Burnaby!