After eight years, Prince Edward Island will have a team represented at the Esso Cup and the Eastern Stars are ready to make the most of playing on a national stage.

The Stars come to Lloydminster on a hot streak that has lasted for five months—they have not lost a game since Nov. 10. They won the remaining 18 games in the Maritime Major Female Hockey League (MMFHL) regular season and went undefeated in the playoffs, sweeping their provincial rivals, the Western Wolves, to reach the Atlantic Regional .

Eastern carried its momentum into the regional tournament in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, going unbeaten in four preliminary-round games and setting up a battle against the host Northern Selects for a spot at the Esso Cup. After falling 5-2 in the regional final a year ago, the Stars got their revenge by defeating the Selects 3-1 to claim a spot at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship.

Emily Gardiner has led the Stars’ offence this season with 26 goals and 51 points in 32 regular-season games. In the playoffs, rookie Avery MacPhee took the spotlight, leading the way with five goals and two helpers. In addition, defender Taylor Hunter represented Team Atlantic earlier this season at the 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship in Quispamsis, New Brunswick.

The Stars are thethird team to represent Prince Edward Island at the Esso Cup, following the Mid-Isle Wildcats (2017) and Kings County Kings (2011). They’re also in search of the first-ever medal for an Atlantic team; just three times in the first 14 editions of the tournament has an East Coast team reached the semifinals, and all three fell short in the bronze medal game.

HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER

Maritime Major Female Hockey League
Prince Edward Island final: defeated Western Wolves 4-0 (2-1, 1-0, 3-2, 2-1)

Atlantic Regional
Preliminary round: 4-0 – 1st place (defeated Halifax Capitals 2-1, defeated Northern Selects 2-1, defeated Moncton Rockets 3-0, defeated Eastern Ice Breakers 6-0)
Final: defeated Northern Selects 3-1

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-T): 27-5-0 (1st in MMFHL)
Goals for: 127 (2nd in MMFHL)
Goals against: 52 (1st in MMFHL)
Longest winning streak: 18 (Nov. 16-Feb. 11)

Top 3 scorers:
- Emily Gardiner – 26G 25A 51P (3rd in MMFHL)
- Ellie Mullins – 19G 17A 36P (9th in MMFHL)
- Emily Lutley – 12G 22A 34P (11th in MMFHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 9-0
Goals for: 24
Goals against: 7

Top 3 scorers:
- Avery MacPhee – 5G 2A 7P
- Emily Lutley – 2G 5A 7P
- Cadence Player – 3G 3A 6P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

First appearance

UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS

None

The Lloydminster Steelers have been counting down to the 2025 Esso Cup all season, and now the hosts are ready to use home ice to their advantage.

The Steelers finished in the top half of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL), ending the regular season with a 17-10-1 record.

Strong defence and goaltending have been crucial for the Steelers. Lloydminster allowed only 48 goals, the second-best goals-against mark in the AFHL behind the juggernaut Edmonton Jr. Oilers. In net, the Steelers have a dynamic duo in Grace Deveau and rookie Harlee Houle. Deveau sported a 1.13 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage, while Houle registered a 1.87 goals-against average and .926 save percentage during the regular season.

This will be Lloydminster’s first appearance at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, but the hosts are already familiar with one opponent: the Jr. Oilers. Edmonton lost just one AFHL game this season, and it came at the hands of the Steelers—a 2-1 overtime decision on Jan. 26.

Historically, the Esso Cup hosts have never won the tournament, but the Steelers are hoping to change that. Two host teams have previously reached the gold medal game—the Red Deer Chiefs (2015) and Sudbury Lady Wolves (2019).

HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER

Alberta Female Hockey League
Quarterfinal: lost to Calgary Fire Red 2-0 (2-3, 1-2)

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL): 17-10-1 (4th in AFHL)
Goals for: 61 (4th in AFHL)
Goals against: 48 (2nd in AFHL)
Longest winning streak: 5 (Nov. 22-Dec. 20)

Top 3 scorers:
- Raevyn Neahr – 10G 11A 21P (12th in AFHL)
- Skylar Heinrichs – 10G 10A 20P (15th in AFHL)
- Taryn Leighton – 6G 8A 14P (36th in AFHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 0-2
Goals for: 3
Goals against: 5

Top 3 scorers:
- Ashlyn Hinton – 2G 0A 2P
- Sydney Klebanosky – 0G 2A 2P
- Raevyn Neahr – 0G 2A 2P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

First appearance

UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS

Grace Deveau – Trinity Western University
Ashlyn Hinton – Lakeland College
Ryann Rekimowich – Lakeland College
Natalie Tychkowsky – Red Deer Polytechnic

We’re down to two in the Pacific Region.

The Greater Vancouver Comets hope to reach its first Esso Cup after a strong regular season in the British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL). Goaltender Olivia Tran leads the BCEHL in wins (19), shootouts (nine) and has the second-best goals-against average at 1.18—fellow Comets netminder, Alexandra Johnston, has the season’s best average with a 0.77 GAA. Johnston carried the regular-season momentum into the playoffs with a 4-0 record, 1.37 GAA and a .930 saves percentage.

In the Alberta Female Hockey League, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers were the team to beat, recording one overtime loss against the Lloydminster Steelers on January 26 during the regular season. Keira Grant had an excellent performance in the provincial tournament, scoring seven goals and adding three helpers in six playoff games. Standout goaltending from Taya Christie and Ella Dunham-Fox resulted in only five goals against and two shutouts during the provincial tournament.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2024 – Edmonton Jr. Oilers (bronze medal)
2023 – Fraser Valley Rush (silver medal)
2022 – Fraser Valley Rush (silver medal)
2019 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal)
2018 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal)

GREATER VANCOUVER COMETS
BCEHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 28-2-2 (1st in BCEHL)
Goals for: 137
Goals against: 33
Leading scorer: Rowan Brooke Hu (21G 20A 41P)

Playoff record: 4-0
Goals for: 11
Goals against: 6
Leading scorer: Carolyn Koo and Noe Crookham (2G 1A 3P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Thompson-Okanagan Lakers 2-0 (3-2, 3-1)
Final: defeated Northern Capitals 2-0 (1-0, 4-3)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none

EDMONTON JR. OILERS
AFHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 27-1-0 (1st in AFHL)
Goals for: 124
Goals against: 26
Leading scorer: Parker Small (11G 20A 31P)

Playoff record: 6-0
Goals for: 24
Goals against: 5
Leading scorer: Keira Grant (7G 3A 10P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Sherwood Park Reign 2-0 (5-2, 7-1)
Semifinal: defeated Calgary Fire Red 2-0 (3-1, 1-0)
Final: defeated St. Albert Slash 2-0 (5-1, 3-0)

Last national championship appearance: 2024 (bronze medal)
Total national championship appearances: 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024)

It’s been five years since the Saskatoon Stars were last at the Esso Cup. Now, the team has a chance to make its fifth appearance at the U18 Women’s National Club Championship after winning the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) championship. After sweeping Weyburn in the quarterfinals, the Stars’ semifinal and championship series came down to decisive Game 3s. Halle Duchene led the Stars in the playoffs with seven goals and eight assists to help Saskatoon advance to the West Regional.

The Eastman Selects are hoping to make its first appearance at the Esso Cup after winning the Manitoba Female Hockey League (MFHL) title in a thrilling championship game. The Selects swept the Interlake Lightning and Yellowhead Chiefs to meet the Winnipeg Avros in the final. It all came down to double-overtime in Game 5 of the final, when Sophia Heidinger scored the game-winning goal unassisted to seal the win for the Selects.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2024 – Regina Rebels (gold medal)
2023 – Regina Rebels (bronze medal)
2022 – Notre Dame Hounds (third place)
2019 – Saskatoon Stars (fourth place)
2018 – Saskatoon Stars (silver medal)

SASKATOON STARS
SFU18AAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 18-8-4 (2nd in SFU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 110
Goals against: 67
Leading scorer: Halle Duchene (20G 21A 41P)

Playoff record: 6-2
Goals for: 35
Goals against: 12
Leading scorer: Halle Duchene (7G 8A 15P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Weyburn Gold Wings 2-0 (7-1, 7-1)
Semifinal: defeated Swift Current Wildcats 2-1 (6-3, 0-2, 5-2)
Final: defeated Battlefords Sharks 2-1 (3-0, 1-2, 6-1)

Last national championship appearance: 2019 (fourth place)
Total national championship appearances: 4 (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)

EASTMAN SELECTS
MFHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 27-5-0 (1st in MFHL)
Goals for: 113
Goals against: 33
Leading scorer: Vayda Rigaux (10G 26A 36P)

Playoff record: 9-2
Goals for: 30
Goals against: 10
Leading scorer: Sophia Heidinger (6G 6A 12P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Interlake Lightning 3-0 (3-0, 4-0, 4-0)
Semifinal: defeated Yellowhead Chiefs 3-0 (4-1, 4-3, 4-0)
Final: defeated Winnipeg Avros 3-2 (2-1, 3-0, 0-2, 0-2, 2-1 2OT)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none

It’s time to crown an Atlantic Region champion on the road to the Esso Cup. The Northern Selects have represented the East Coast for four of the past five tournaments and enter the Atlantic tournament as the host team this year.

The Eastern Stars led the Maritime Major Female Hockey League this year. Forward Emily Gardiner led the Stars during the regular season, scoring 26 goals and 51 points in 28 games—an average of about 1.82 points per game. In Newfoundland, the Eastern Ice Breakers only allowed three goals in five playoff games, outscoring opponents 29-3.

The Halifax Capitals join the Northern Selects as the only teams with national championship appearances. The Capitals, known then as the Halifax Fire, competed at the Esso Cup in 2019, finishing in fifth place.

All five teams had strong postseason performances, boasting a combined 19-6 playoff record.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2024 – Northern Selects (5th place)
2023 – Northern Selects (4th place)
2022 – Northern Selects (4th place)
2019 – Halifax Fire (5th place)
2018 – Northern Selects (5th place)

NORTHERN SELECTS
HOST

Regular season record: 21-10-1 (2nd in MMFHL)
Goals for: 131
Goals against: 65
Leading scorer: Hali Rose MacLean (39G 18A 57P)

Playoff record: 2-3
Goals for: 9
Goals against: 14
Leading scorer: Hali Rose MacLean (4G 1A 5P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
N.S. semifinal: lost to Halifax Capitals 3-2 (1-0, 3-9, 1-2, 4-1, 0-2)

Last national championship appearance: 2024 (5th place)
Total national championship appearances: 4 (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024)

EASTERN STARS
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 27-5-0 (1st in MMFHL)
Goals for: 127
Goals against: 52
Leading scorer: Emily Gardiner (26G 25A 51P)

Playoff record: 4-0
Goals for: 8
Goals against: 4
Leading scorer: Cadence Player (2G 1A 3P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
P.E.I. final: defeated Western Wolves 4-0 (2-1, 1-0, 3-2, 2-1)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none

HALIFAX CAPITALS
NOVA SCOTIA CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 18-13-1 (5th in MMFHL)
Goals for: 107
Goals against: 82
Leading scorer: Adison White (24G 23A 47P)

Playoff record: 6-3
Goals for: 21
Goals against: 14
Leading scorer: Ella Driscoll (6G 1A 7P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
N.S. semifinal: defeated Northern Selects 3-2 (0-1, 9-3, 2-1, 1-4, 2-0)
N.S. final: defeated Dartmouth Surge 3-1 (2-1, 1-0, 1-3, 3-1)

Last national championship appearance: 2019 (5th place)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2019)

EASTERN ICE BREAKERS
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 15-1-1 (1st in HNL)
Goals for: 101
Goals against: 10
Leading scorer: Maggie Strong (15G 16A 31P)

Playoff record: 4-0
Goals for: 29
Goals against: 3
Leading scorer: Anastasia Penney (3G 7A 10P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
N.L. league semifinal: defeated Tri-Pen Ice 2-0 (10-0, 9-0)
N.L. league final: defeated Central IcePak 2-0 (5-2, 5-1)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none

MONCTON ROCKETS
NEW BRUNSWICK CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 14-16-2 (6th in MMFHL)
Goals for: 98
Goals against: 109
Leading scorer: Audrey Poirier (19G 25A 44P)

Playoff record: 3-0
Goals for: 9
Goals against: 5
Leading scorer: Marissa Richard (3G 3A 6P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
N.B. final: defeated Western Flames 3-0 (3-2, 5-3, 1-0)

Last national championship appearance: 2015
Total national championship appearances: 3 (2010, 2014, 2015)

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the schedules and ticket package details for the 2025 editions of the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup and Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.

"We are grateful to the three amazing communities who have dedicated countless hours and put forward an immeasurable effort to play host to these three major events,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact. “The passion, teamwork and unwavering commitment has brought these events to life, that will create memories that will last a lifetime for the athletes, coaches, officials and fans.”

“We are also grateful to BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for their efforts and support to deliver these events and look forward to continuing to work with them into the spring.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup or Centennial Cup can now sign up here to support the delivery of three of Hockey Canada’s marquee national championships.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will air select tournament games, with a full broadcast and streaming schedule to be announced at a later date.

2025 Esso Cup – Lloydminster, Alberta

The Esso Cup returns to Alberta for the first time since 2022, with the Lloydminster Steelers set to host Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, April 20-26 at the Centennial Civic Centre.

Joined by five regional champions from across Canada, the Steelers will play their first game on April 20 at 7 p.m. MT against the Atlantic Region winners, following matchups between the Pacific and Quebec champions and Ontario and West titlists earlier in the day.

After each team plays five preliminary-round games, the top four clubs will advance to the semifinals on April 25, with the medal games scheduled for April 26.

Tickets for the 2025 Esso Cup can be purchased here.

2025 TELUS Cup – Fraser Valley, British Columbia

The host Fraser Valley Thunderbirds will welcome five regional champions to the West Coast for the 2025 TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship, April 21-27 at the Chilliwack Coliseum.

The Thunderbirds open their schedule against the West Region champions on April 21 at 7 p.m. PT to finish a three-game opening day that also sees the Central winners face the Atlantic champs and Quebec titlists play the Pacific champions.

Semifinals are scheduled for April 26, before the medal games on April 27.

Tickets for the 2025 TELUS Cup can be purchased here.

2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons – Calgary, Alberta

In partnership with the CJHL and AJHL, Canada’s top Junior A teams will compete for the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, May 8-18 at the Max Bell Centre. The host Calgary Canucks will be joined by nine champions from across the CJHL.

Teams will be separated into two groups and each play four preliminary-round games, with the quarterfinals scheduled for May 16, semifinals on May 17 and championship game on May 18.

Group A will include the champions from the AJHL, Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Superior International Hockey League (SIHL).

The host Canucks and champions from the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ), Maritime Hockey League (MHL) and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) comprise Group B.

Tickets for the 2025 Centennial Cup can be purchased here.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the host locations for Canada’s 2025 U18 national club championships, with the Esso Cup set for Lloydminster, Alberta, and the TELUS Cup returning west to the Fraser Valley in British Columbia.

From April 20-26, the Lloydminster Steelers of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) will welcome five regional champions to compete for Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship at the Centennial Civic Centre, marking the fifth time the Esso Cup has been hosted in Alberta and the first in the Border City.

The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) will make their national championship debut at the TELUS Cup from April 21-27 at the Chilliwack Coliseum, with Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship returning to British Columbia for the first time since 2017. 

“Hosting a national championship is a tremendous undertaking, and we are grateful for the local organizing committees, Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey, for collaborating with our staff to host first-class events in Lloydminster and Chilliwack next spring,” said Pat McLaughlin, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy. “Canada’s U18 national club championships have seen some of the top athletes in our country compete before they’ve gone on to wear the Maple Leaf internationally, and we know hockey fans in Alberta and British Columbia will enjoy watching teams play for gold next spring.”

Fans can sign up now to receive ticket information about the 2025 Esso Cup and 2025 TELUS Cup as it becomes available, or become a Hockey Canada Insider and receive advanced access to tickets and other promotions.

“These tournaments are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the participants, families and fans, and thanks to the generous support of Esso and TELUS, we are excited to build on the legacy of both events in two outstanding hockey markets,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact for Hockey Canada. “We thank all communities that expressed interest in hosting one of these national championships next season and look forward to welcoming the best under-18 clubs in the country in the spring.”

At the 2024 Esso Cup, the Regina Rebels won their first national title in Vernon, B.C., while the Cantonniers de Magog became national champions for the second time at the 2024 TELUS Cup in Membertou, Nova Scotia. Both gold medal games were broadcast on TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada.

To learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

VERNON, British Columbia –The Regina Rebels have won their first Esso Cup, defeating the North York Storm 2-1 in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon to win gold at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.

Berlin Lolacher (Pilot Butte, SK), who was named the top forward of the tournament, scored the opening goal midway through the second period, beating Storm netminder Jamie Sanford (Toronto, ON). Sanford proved tough to beat, stopping 47 of the 49 shots Regina fired her way.

“This is an unbelievable feeling,” Lolacher said. “I don’t have words to describe this feeling. After the bronze medal last year, we had one goal: to win this tournament. And here we are. This is amazing.”

The tournament’s most valuable player, Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK), scored the eventual game-winner just two minutes after Lolacher broke the deadlock.

"To go from bronze (in 2023) to gold was our only thought this week,” added Zablocki . “Saskatchewan is always known as a bit of an underdog but here we are, and there is no group of girls I would rather go to battle with. I love this team; these girls and this feeling is something we will always remember. I’m so proud of how hard we worked to get to this point and to call ourselves national champions… it’s special.”

Lily Paisley (Mount Albert, ON) brought the Storm within one with a late power-play goal, but Rebels netminder Hannah Tresek (Regina, SK) shut the door in the final minutes, making four saves as the clock wound down. Tresek finished with 26 saves.

Edmonton Jr. Oilers defeat Thompson-Okanagan Lakers to win bronze

Earlier in the day, Edmonton rebounded from a 4-1 loss to North York in the semifinals to win the bronze medal, defeating host Thompson-Okanagan 1-0 in overtime to secure the program's fifth Esso Cup bronze medal.

Captain Layla Matthew (Edmonton, AB) scored the game-winner just over four minutes into the extra frame.

Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe (Red Deer, AB) earned the shutout, making 12 saves. The Jr. Oilers, who finished in first place in the preliminary round, outshot the Lakers 35-12.

Following the game, the Esso Cup award winners were announced:

Top Goaltender – Jorja Burrows (New Glasgow, NS / Northern Selects)
Top Defender – Ciara Lang (Edmonton, AB / Edmonton Jr. Oilers)
Top Forward – Berlin Lolacher (Pilot Butte, SK / Regina Rebels)
Most Sportsmanlike Player – Sydney Bowness (Toronto, ON / North York Storm)
Esso Cup Scholarship – Lily Roberts (Vernon, BC / Thompson-Okanagan Lakers)
Most Valuable Player – Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK / Regina Rebels)

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Playing hockey on the outdoor rink was a rite of passage for Callie Dach. Now she gets to continue another Dach tradition—hockey at the highest level.

The 17-year-old is looking to help the Edmonton Jr. Oilers to an Esso Cup championship this week in Vernon, B.C.

“Going through this experience has been awesome and sharing it with all these girls is special,” Dach says.

Dach is a 5-foot-9 defender from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and is the younger sister to Kirby and Colton Dach, who both wore the Maple Leaf at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Kirby now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, while Colton—a Chicago Blackhawks prospect—spent this season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

Hockey has always been an important bonding opportunity for the Dach siblings, and the trio has spent hours on the backyard rink and the outdoor rink at the lake.

“Hockey helps me connect with my brothers and be a part of something together. It’s nice always having a shared interest with them,” Dach says. “Seeing them make it is a super proud moment for me and my family, to know they’ve made their dreams come true after all the hours they put into working for it.”

Dach first laced up her skates at a young age, playing organized hockey when she was five years old. Like many younger siblings, she wanted to be just like her older brothers.

“Always going to the rink and watching my brothers, it made me want to follow in their footsteps and be almost as good as them and compete against them in any way I could,” she says.

For parents Dale and Hillary, seeing their children have these experiences is a highlight, but it’s more than that—it's about the bigger picture of how hockey enriches their lives.

“It’s about belonging to a group that is working together for something. The accomplishments, the highs and the lows ... it gives you a lot of ways to learn later in life how to handle adversity and success in life,” Dale says. “Hockey has given them a lot of great avenues for meeting people. I played the game when I was younger and the connections and contacts that I have are lifelong, so it was a big part of my life and a big part of our family.”

The Edmonton Jr. Oilers are back at the Esso Cup after nearly a decade-long absence, having previously won three bronze medals as the Thunder. Dach and her teammates finished second in the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) with a 21-7-2 record with strong goaltending leading the way.

“I think we are very well-balanced, and everyone is there for the right reasons. We’ve done a really good job of buying into what we all believe in, and we have lots of culture and identity within the room—we share a special bond,” Dach says. “Playing hockey with all these girls has given me another family and is an outlet for me.”

Callie’s parents will be making the nine-hour trek to Vernon to cheer on the Jr. Oilers and would love to see the team have success after all the hard work their daughter has put into her craft.

“We are very proud of Callie and very excited to see how she and the team do at the Esso Cup,” Dale says. “You don’t get these opportunities every day—many families don’t get these opportunities—so the biggest thing is just to sit back and enjoy the ride and do the best you can and make sure you have fun with it.”

Playing hockey and being competitive come naturally to the Dach parents—both Dale and Hillary played sports competitively growing up. Dale played hockey and Hillary skied. Having their children grow up around sport wasn’t always about reaching the highest level, but more about effort.

“We’ve always taught our kids that no matter what you’re doing—whether it’s schoolwork, sports or working—you always put in the best effort,” Dale says.

Over the years, Dach has focused on improving her game and feels like she has made strides on both sides of the puck.

“I am very strong defensively. I like to go to work in the corners and get pucks outs,” she said. “On the offensive side, I like my shot.”

Callie is committed to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology next season and the Dach family will be there to support her in the next transition of her game.

“She’s very driven and we're just very proud of her and excited to watch what all things hold for her,” Dale says.

It is a tremendous feat to qualify for the Esso Cup, especially if you are competing against 51 other teams in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA).

After narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Esso Cup last year—losing in the gold medal game at OWHA Provincials to the eventual Esso Cup champion Stoney Creek Sabres—the North York Storm had another strong season that has led to their first appearance at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.

The Storm went 17-2-2 during the regular season to finish fourth in the OWHL Southern standings. After defeating the Central York Panthers, Toronto Aeros, Sudbury Lady Wolves and 2022 Esso Cup champion Durham West Lightning in the playoffs, the Storm edged the Stratford Aces 3-2 in a shootout to become OWHL Southern champions.

The momentum from the league playoffs carried into the provincial tournament, where the Storm allowed only four goals in an undefeated run to punch their ticket to the Esso Cup.

North York will be one of the youngest teams on the ice in Vernon, with an average age of 14.86 years old. However, Ontario teams have had great success in recent years. The last two winners, Stoney Creek and Durham West, hailed from Ontario, and the region has not finished lower than fourth place in tournament history.

HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON

Ontario Women’s Hockey Association

Playdowns: 2-0-2 – 1st place in Region Q (tied Toronto Leaside Wildcats 2-2; defeated Etobicoke Dolphins 3-0; defeated Scarborough Sharks 4-0; tied Toronto Aeros 1-1)
Preliminary round: 3-0-0 – 1st place in Group A (defeated Ancaster Avalanche 6-0; defeated Clarington Flames 3-0; defeated London Devilettes 4-0)
Quarterfinal: defeated Sudbury Lady Wolves 3-1
Semifinal: defeated Waterloo Ravens 3-1
Final: defeated North Halton Twisters 5-2

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-T): 17-2-2 (4th in OWHL-Southern)
Goals for: 77 (2nd in OWHL-Southern)
Goals against: 35 (T-16th in OWHL-Southern)
Longest winning streak: 9 (Dec. 9-Feb. 4)

Top 3 scorers:
- Demi Lazarou – 13G 12A 25P
- Anabella Van Berkel – 14G 7A 21P
- Lily Paisley – 12G 7A 19P

PLAYOFFS

Record: 8-0-2
Goals for: 34
Goals against: 7

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

First appearance