Road to the 2019 Esso Cup: Atlantic Regional

For the fourth-straight year there will be a new Atlantic representative at the Esso Cup. The Northern Selects loss in the NSFMHL final ended the hopes of the defending regional champion to retain the crown and advance again to Canada’s National Female Midget Championship.

Last year’s regional host, the Eastern Ice Breakers, and the Northern Lightning, this year’s host team, are returnees from 2018. The Western Wind is making its first regional appearance since 2011, while the Fundy Nationals and Halifax Fire are newcomers to the tournament, although nine members of the Fire were part of the Metro Boston Pizza team that hosted the Esso Cup last spring.

These teams are good, combining for a 20-4 postseason record. The Wind (6-0) and Ice Breakers (4-0) cruised through the playoffs without a single defeat, while the only losses suffered by the Lightning and Nationals were to each other at the New Brunswick provincials.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2018 – Northern Selects (sixth place)
2017 – Mid-Isle Wildcats (sixth place)
2016 – Metro Boston Pizza (sixth place)
2015 – Moncton Rockets (sixth place)
2014 – Moncton Rockets (sixth place) 

EASTERN ICE BREAKERS
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 13-2-0 (1st in HNL)
Goals for: 81
Goals against: 21
Leading scorer: Mackenzie Cahill (12G 14A 26 P)

Playoff record: 4-0
Goals for: 19
Goals against: 10
Leading scorer: Mackenzie Cahill (6G 4A 10P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Central 2-0 (7-3, 6-1)
HNL championship: defeated Western 2-0 (5-4, 2-1)

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

FUNDY NATIONALS
NEW BRUNSWICK REPRESENTATIVES

Regular season record: 6-16-2 (5th in NSFMHL)
Goals for: 43
Goals against: 137
Leading scorer: Haley Tofts (11G 7A 18 P)

Playoff record: 2-1
Goals for: 11
Goals against: 10
Leading scorer: not available

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Preliminary round: 2-0 (first place) (defeated Northern 4-2, defeated EDZA West 5-3) N.B. championship game: lost to Northern 5-2

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

HALIFAX FIRE
NOVA SCOTIA CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 18-2-4 (2nd in NSFMHL)
Goals for: 135
Goals against: 38
Leading scorer: Ellen Laurence (46G 24A 70 P)

Playoff record: 6-2
Goals for: 35
Goals against: 16
Leading scorer: Ellen Laurence (7G 11A 18P)

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Cape Breton 3-0 (7-1, 6-1, 6-2)
NSFMHL championship: defeated Northern 3-2 (4-5, 1-2, 6-3, 3-2 SO, 2-0)

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

NORTHERN LIGHTNING
HOST & NEW BRUNSWICK CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 13-7-4-0 (4th in NSFMHL)
Goals for: 96
Goals against: 50
Leading scorer: Erica Plourde (38G 16A 54P)

Playoff record: 2-1
Goals for: 13
Goals against: 7
Leading scorer: unavailable

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Preliminary round: 1-1 (second place) (lost to Fundy 4-2, defeated EDZA West 6-1)
N.B. championship game: defeated Fundy 5-2

Last national championship appearance: 2009 (fifth place)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2009)

WESTERN WIND
PEIFMAAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 22-1-1 (1st in PEIFMAAAHL)
Goals for: 134
Goals against: 43
Leading scorer: unavailable

Playoff record: 6-0
Goals for: 36
Goals against: 10
Leading scorer: unavailable

ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Kings County 3-0 (8-0, 7-1, 7-2)
PEIFMAAAHL championship: defeated Central 3-0 (5-2, 5-2, 4-2)

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