2016 Esso Cup

LEBRUN’S GOAL GIVES RICHELIEU ESSO CUP OPENER

WENDY GRAVES

Weyburn, Sask. – Katyanne Lebrun’s (St-Hilaire, Que.) goal in the second period was all the offence the Express du Richelieu needed to beat Metro Boston Pizza 1-0 and win the opening game of the 2016 Esso Cup.

Audrey Vigeant’s (St-Hyacinthe, Que.) shot from the point was saved by Josee Thibeau (Halifax, N.S.), and amid all the bodies in front of the net, Lebrun put in the rebound.

Léonie Philbert (St-Bruno, Que.) also picked up an assist on the goal.

Richelieu outshot Metro 42-20 on the afternoon. Marithé Lévesque (Baie-Comeau, Que.) picked up the win.
Thibeau was outstanding in turning aside 41 shots for the Atlantic Region champions.

This is Richelieu’s first appearance at the Esso Cup. Metro is making its third at Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, but first in three years.

The Express enjoyed more puck possession through the opening 20 minutes, but it was Metro creating better quality scoring chances. Lévesque was called upon twice to make point blank saves and keep the game goalless after 20 minutes.

Richelieu continued to double up Metro on shots on net in the second period, this time taking control of play with it.

Thibeau, though, kept shutting the door. A kick-save with less than a minute to play in the middle period kept the deficit to one, and her quick reflexes on a one-timer early in the third continued to keep her team in it.

Metro had its chances. Jenna Pellerin (Halifax, N.S.) had a great end-to-end individual effort denied midway through the second period; later in the frame, Jessica O’Malley (Halifax, N.S.) gained possession on her defenceman, but couldn’t sweep the puck past Lévesque.

Richelieu is back on the ice Monday afternoon (3:30 p.m MT) to play the Saskatoon Stars, winners of the West Region, while Metro looks to bounce back against the Pacific Region champion Rocky Mountain Raiders (12 p.m. MT).