Road to the 2019 Esso Cup: West Regional

A fourth Esso Cup appearance in five years is on the table for the Saskatoon Stars. All the SFMAAAHL champions need to do is tame a Westman Wildcats team gunning for a return to Canada’s National Female Midget Championship for the first time since winning the inaugural national title in 2009.

The 2018-19 Stars feature a whopping 13 players who captured a silver medal at the 2018 Esso Cup. Paige Hubbard and Gillian Dervin are the only two members of this year’s Wildcats squad who won the MFMHL title in 2017 and competed in the West Regional against the Prince Albert Bears.

Saskatoon’s dynamic offence is fueled by Grace Shirley, Kaitlin Jockims, Anna Leschyshyn and Joelle Fiala, who finished second through fifth in SFMAAHL scoring. Ali O’Hara and Hubbard both recorded over a point-per-game for Westman, but the Wildcats are more heralded for their defence; Natalie Williamson produced a 0.81 goals-against average and .971 save percentage in the MFMHL playoffs.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2018 – Saskatoon Stars (silver medal)
2017 – Prince Albert Bears (fifth place)
2016 – Saskatoon Stars (fourth place)
2015 (SK) – Saskatoon Stars (bronze medal)
2015 (MB) – Central Plains Capitals (fourth place)
2014 – Weyburn Gold Wings (gold medal)

WESTMAN WILDCATS
MFMHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 21-5-2 (1st in MFMHL)
Goals for: 80
Goals against: 53
Leading scorer: Ali O’Hara (14G 16A 30P)

Playoff record: 9-1
Goals for: 32
Goals against: 13
Leading scorer: Paige Hubbard (8G 7A 15P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarter-final: defeated Interlake 3-1 (6-2, 2-1, 1-2, 4-0)
Semifinal: defeated Winnipeg Ice 3-0 (3-1, 3-2 OT, 5-2)
MFMHL championship: defeated Winnipeg Avros 3-0 (2-0, 4-3, 2-0)

Last national championship appearance: 2009 (gold medal)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2009)

SASKATOON STARS
SFMAAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 24-1-3 (1st in SFMAAAHL)
Goals for: 149
Goals against: 44
Leading scorer: Grace Shirley (27G 21A 48P)

Playoff record: 6-1
Goals for: 22
Goals against: 9
Leading scorer: Grace Shirley (2G 9A 11P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Notre Dame 3-1 (6-1, 3-1, 1-2 OT 3-1)
SFMAAAHL championship: defeated Regina 3-0 (2-1, 4-1, 3-2)

Last national championship appearance: 2018 (silver medal)
Total national championship appearances: 3 (2015, 2016, 2018)