2019 Esso Cup

STARS’ LESCHYSHYN MAKES ESSO CUP HISTORY IN WIN

QUINTON AMUNDSON

SUDBURY, Ont. – Anna Leschyshyn produced the greatest single-game scoring performance in Esso Cup history on Thursday afternoon by torching the Halifax Fire for five goals and three assists to lead the Saskatoon Stars to an 11-1 win.

Leschyshyn’s eight points overtake the previous record of seven, which held up for over eight years since Taylor Woods and Olivia Howe set the mark for the Notre Dame Hounds in a 14-2 win over the Kings County Kings on April 19, 2011.

Her five goals washed away the record of four established by Woods and matched by Kate Gallant of the Durham West Lightning in 2017.

Leschyshyn’s dominant outing helped her Stars clinch first place in the preliminary round. They will engage in a semifinal battle Friday against the St. Albert Slash – the club that broke the Stars’ hearts in the 2018 gold medal game.

Kaitlyn Jockims and Joelle Fiala added a goal and two assists apiece for the Stars, Grace Shirley and Makena chipped in a goal and a helper and Katelyn Cadrain stopped 18 shots for the win.

Hannah McNeil scored the lone goal for the Fire.

The Stars brought the fire to the Fire from the opening puck drop. Leschyshyn picked up a goal and an assist in a first frame that saw the Stars outscore the Halifax squad 2-0 and outshoot them 19-2.

The record-setter and her teammates were even more lethal in period two. Leschyshyn upped her stats to two goals and three assists through 40 minutes by factoring in on three of the Stars' six goals in the second period.

The Esso Cup veteran – she is playing in her third in four years – drew within a point of the record with her hat-trick tally at 1:59 of the third period and tied the goal and points records with 5:25 remaining in the final frame.

She seized Esso Cup history for herself with 2:03 left.

Saskatoon’s win confirms that the Stoney Creek Sabres will battle the Sudbury Lady Wolves in the other semifinal. Friday’s schedule will be released following Sudbury’s match against the As de Québec on Thursday night.