Road to the 2019 Esso Cup: AFHL

The two-time defending national champions are at it again. With nine players back from the team that made history with a second-consecutive Esso Cup title last spring, the St. Albert Slash romped to the top of the AFHL. How good was the Slash? It won 19 of its last 21 games, allowed one goal or less in 17 of those wins (including 11 shutouts) and outscored its opponents 119-26 overall. AFHL scoring champion Madison Willan (24-27—51) led four Slash skaters in the first four spots, while goaltenders Brianna Sank (0.81) and Holly Borrett (0.86) finished one-two in goals-against average and combined for 15 shutouts.

PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
QUALIFYING SERIES
3) Calgary Fire vs. 6) Rocky Mountain Raiders
4) Red Deer Chiefs vs. 5) Edmonton Pandas

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
1) St. Albert Slash
2) Lloydminster Steelers
Qualifier #1
Qualifier #2

FINAL STANDINGS (W-OTW-OTL-L)
St. Albert – 79 points (26-0-1-3)
Lloydminster – 65 points (22-2-1-7)
Calgary – 56 points (15-4-3-8)
Red Deer – 30 points (9-0-3-18)
Edmonton – 20 points (4-4-0-22)
Rocky Mountain – 20 points (5-1-3-21)

LEADING SCORERS
Madison Willan (St. Albert) – 24G 27A 51P
Jaden Bogden (St. Albert) – 16G 16A 32P
Mackenzie Kordic (St. Albert) – 20G 11A 31P
Jenna Goodwin (St. Albert) – 12G 18A 30P
Kelsey Hall (Lloydminster) – 12G 13A 25P

LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE
2018 (St. Albert Slash – gold medal)

TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
12 (2009, 2009 (host), 2010, 2011, 2011 (host), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015 (host), 2016, 2017, 2018)

LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2018 (St. Albert Slash)

TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
2 (2017 – St. Albert Slash; 2018 – St. Albert Slash)