
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
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