2015 Esso Cup

LADY WOLVES CLINCH FIRST PLACE, ELIMINATE THUNDER

WENDY GRAVES

RED DEER, Alta. –Goals from Karli Shell (Sudbury, Ont.) and Melisa Kingsley (Sudbury, Ont.) 1:23 apart in the second period was all the Sudbury Lady Wolves needed to defeat the Edmonton Thunder Thursday afternoon, locking up first place heading into the semifinals and eliminating the Pacific Region champions from the 2015 Esso Cup.

For the Thunder it was simple: win and you may get in. Lose and your streak of five straight years with an Esso Cup medal was over. Despite taking an early lead and holding a 32-23 edge in shots, the team couldn’t find the equalizer to extend its playoff hopes.

Coming into its final preliminary round game, Edmonton found itself in a position similar to last year: barely winning its opener, then needing a win on the last day to qualify – or, in this case, have the chance to qualify – for the playoffs.

The team got the boost it needed midway through the first. Showing the urgency fitting of a team fighting to continue its season, the Thunder applied sustained pressure on the Lady Wolves goal. Moments after Alison Barnett (Edmonton, Ont.) missed just wide on a forehand, the puck came back out front and the forward converted on her third successful shot.

But Edmonton effectively saw its season end in a 83-second span in the second.

Shell, the 2014 Top Forward and Top Scorer, took a pass from Sophie Lebrun (Kapuskasing, Ont.) that put her behind two defenders, then broke in alone and finished with a forehand.

Kingsley gave her team the lead for good when she put home a rebound at the side of the net.

Shell and Kingsley also each had an assist, as did Meagan McGaughey (Sudbury, Ont.).

Madison Padgett (Edmonton, Alta.) had an assist for the Thunder.

Edmonton’s best chance to break even came on its final power play opportunity with just under 13 minutes to play, but like on its three other man-advantages, it just couldn’t find a goal.

Danika Ranger (North Bay, Ont.) picked up the win in net; Tracie Kikuchi (Edmonton, Alta.) took the loss.

Sudbury, bronze medallists one year ago, finished the preliminary round with a record of 4-1-0-0.

Edmonton, in its seventh straight Esso Cup, went 1-3-1-0 and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time.