2016 Esso Cup

KELLY SCORES ANOTHER PAIR; ICE CATS SCORE ANOTHER WIN

WENDY GRAVES

Weyburn, Sask. – Four minutes, 46 seconds. That’s how long it took for the Brantford Ice Cats to turn a one-goal game into a runaway win.

A day after scoring a natural hat trick, Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ont.) had another two goals in leading the Ice Cats past Metro Boston Pizza 4-0.

It was the team’s second win in a row after a loss on opening day.

Kelly also added an assist, giving her seven points in her last two games.

Brooklyn Gemmill (Cambridge, Ont.) and Taylor Trussler (Kitchener, Ont.) each scored their first goals of the 2016 Esso Cup.

Emma Verbruggen (Ancaster, Ont.) made 15 saves for the shutout.

Josee Thibeau (Halifax, N.S.) was once again outstanding for Metro, turning aside 31 shots.

Brantford opened the scoring 15:38 into the first on the power play.

Paige Cohoon (St. George, Ont.) sent a point shot high over the net; a friendly bounce off the end boards sent the puck back to the side of the net for Gemmill to slide in.

Brantford dominated possession over the first 40 minutes, outshooting Metro 20-7. Great goaltending from Thibeau – who two days ago turned aside 41 of 42 shots in a 1-0 loss to the Express du Richelieu – continued to keep things close.

The Ice Cats, though, took control with a three-goal spurt midway through the third.

Emily Rickwood (Cambridge, Ont.) sent Trussler in alone, and the speedy forward went forehand to backhand before sliding the puck past Thibeau.

Kelly then deked her defender and went top shelf glove side.

Just 1:24 later Katrina Mitton’s (Brantford, Ont.) shot was deflected in off of Kelly.

Metro has now been shut out two times in three games, and falls to 1-2. It next faces the host Weyburn Gold Wings on Wednesday night (7 p.m. MT).

The Ice Cats will look to make it three wins in a row in the day’s first game, when they take on the Saskatoon Stars (12 p.m. MT).