2016 National Women's Under-18 Championship

B.C. BRINGS HOME BRONZE

WENDY GRAVES

REGINA, Sask. – British Columbia is taking the bronze medal back to the West Coast.

Thanks to its 5-3 win over Ontario Blue at the 2016 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, the team clinched only its second medal in tournament history. B.C. won bronze at the January 2005 event.

Alex Allan (Abbotsford, B.C./Pacific, JWHL) scored twice, and Allison Borrow (Clearwater, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL), Shay-lee McConnell (Port Alberni, B.C./Ontario Hockey Academy, ONMAAA) and Amy Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./Pacific, JWHL) had a goal each in the win. Potomak added two assists.

Kate Stuart (Chilliwack, B.C./Pursuit of Excellence, CSSHL) made 18 saves in net.

After being overwhelmed in its semifinal loss, B.C. needed an early start today. It got one. Potomak couldn’t convert on the centering pass from Miranda Gaudet (West Kelowna, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL), but a trailing Allan roofed the rebound on Ontario Blue goaltender Jaimie Rainville (Welland, Ont./Stoney Creek, PWHL) .

Ontario Blue equalized before the first period was half over. From her own zone, Carley Olivier (Sudbury, Ont./Waterloo, PWHL) attempted a long outlet pass to Victoria Klimek (Orangeville, Ont./Oakville, PWHL). The puck instead went off the boards to the front of the net; Stuart whiffed on her attempt to redirect the puck to the side boards, and Klimek took advantage.

Undeterred by the miscue, B.C. retook the lead only 1:36 later on the power play. With lots of bodies in front of Rainville, Allan scored her second of the game, this one from between the circle and crease.

Ontario Blue shook things up to start the second period. Tristyn Elford (New Liskeard, Ont./Etobicoke, PWHL) took over in net for Rainville.

B.C. increased its lead midway through that middle frame. Thanks to her strong forechecking, Borrow gained possession of the puck deep in the Ontario Blue zone. Her attempt to centre the puck went off Meaghan Hector’s (Georgetown, Ont./Oakville, PWHL) skate and in the net.

Only 57 seconds later, Allexan Templeman (Staffa, Ont./Waterloo, PWHL) got that one back for Ontario Blue with a wraparound.

B.C. restored its two-goal lead 7:43 into the third period, with McConnell pouncing on a big rebound off Courtney Vorster’s (Richmond, B.C./Shattuck-St. Mary’s, USHS) point shot.

Potomak all but put the game out of reach with 5:45 remaining. While killing a penalty, the captain created a turnover in her own zone, then outraced everyone to the other end of the ice and scored five-hole.

Savannah Bouzide (Amherstburg, Ont./Southwest, PWHL) scored late when Ontario Blue had an extra attacker on the ice.