The Prince Albert Bears are back at the Esso Cup and the team is thrilled to welcome Canada’s best to the Prairies after five years of anticipation.

Last year, the Bears served as tournament hosts 765 kilometres away from Prince Albert, finishing in fifth place with a 2-3 record in Okotoks, Alta. Coming into this year knowing they are hosting again allowed the 11 members of last year’s team to share their experience with new teammates.

“That’s been very fortunate from last year’s experience,” says Bears head coach Steve Young. “We played tough games and the girls that have been there just remind them, ‘You know, you’re going to potentially play six or seven days like this in a row, so be ready for that.’”

For the Bears to have success, it needs to be a group effort, Young says. But as Prince Albert learned last year, anything can happen once the tournament begins. One of its two wins was a 6-5 victory over the Fraser Valley Rush, who took home silver from Okotoks.

“The biggest thing I took in from that tournament is, and I know it’s a cliché, it is really day-to-day,” Young says. “You have to be the best you can be that day, and when that day is done, you just got to be ready for the next day.”

With the experience from last year mixed with home ice advantage at Art Hauser Arena, it’s sure to be a special tournament for the Bears.

“We’ve stressed to our girls all year that this is something that we really have an opportunity to take advantage of, and we want to work towards that for the tournament.”

HOW THEY GOT TO PRINCE ALBERT

Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League
Quarterfinal: lost to Notre Dame Hounds 2-1 (0-4, 3-0, 04)

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-OTW-OTL-L): 9-1-2-18 (5th in SFU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 74 (5th in SFU18AAAHL)
Goals against: 111 (6th in SFU18AAAHL)
Longest winning streak: 4 (Nov. 26-Dec. 17)
Top 3 scorers:
- Julia Cey – 16G 9A 25P (14th in SFU18AAAHL)
- Tristyn Endicott – 7G 16A 23P (17th in SFU18AAAHL)
- Jacquelyne Chief – 7G 15A 22P (20th in SFU18AAAHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 1-2
Goals for: 6
Goals against: 8
Top 3 scorers:
- Julia Cey – 1G 1A 2P
- Ella Clarke – 0G 2A 2P
- Kelsey Ledoux – 1G 0A 1P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

2022 – Prince Albert Bears | fifth place | 2-3 | 19GF 21GA
2017 – Prince Albert Bears | fifth place | 2-3 | 11GF 14GA

PLAYERS TO WATCH

JULIA CEY
top power forward … leads team in points … ability to drive towards the net with power

JACQUELYNE CHIEF
leader and captain … top three in points as defender ... plays a calm and simple game

CLAUDIA LAMMERS
energy player … leader and assistant captain … attacks on the ice with full speed

UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS

Jacquelyne Chief – Maryville University
Jasmine Kohl – Lake Forest College
Claudia Lammers – Lakeland College
Jazlyn Petreman – Wilkes University
Kaebree Young – Olds College