CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has confirmed the dates and host communities for seven events taking place during the 2023-24 season, including the return of the National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

“Today is an exciting day for Hockey Canada as we announce seven events that play a critical role in the development of men’s, women’s and para hockey athletes, coaches and staff,” said Pat McLaughlin, chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “We hope that hosting these tournaments will help introduce new fans to the game, create lifelong memories for Canadians and have a positive impact in each community long after the medals have been handed out.”

The 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be played Nov. 2-11 in Charlottetown and Summerside, PE, marking the first time in the tournament’s 37-year history that it will be hosted in the province.

Featuring some of the best young women’s hockey players in Canada, the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship will run Nov. 5-11 in Dawson Creek, BC, bringing the event back to the Peace Region for the first time since 2012.

Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will compete for gold with three other countries at the 2023 Para Hockey Cup, which will be held Dec. 3-9 in Quispamsis, NB, marking the fourth Hockey Canada event that Quispamsis has hosted.

Top Canadian and international players will be showcased at the 2023 World Junior A Hockey Challenge from Dec. 10-17 in Truro, NS, as the tournament returns to Atlantic Canada for the fourth time and to Truro for the second time.

In the spring, Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship will be decided at the Esso Cup in Vernon, BC from April 21-27, while the Men’s U18 National Club Championship will be played April 22-28 in Sydney, NS.

The best Junior A teams in Canada will take to the ice at the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, ON, with the Oakville Blades hosting the national championship from May 9-19.

“We are thrilled to share the list of communities that will host Hockey Canada events during the 2023-24 season,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of strategic partnerships and community impact. “The support we have received from host committees has been outstanding and we are confident that participants, volunteers, partners and fans will have fantastic experiences at each tournament.”

Ticket information for all seven events can be found here. Tournament schedules will be announced at a later date. 

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The Stoney Creek Sabres have won their first Esso Cup, defeating the Fraser Valley Rush 5-4 in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon to win gold at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.

Madison Burr (Paris, Ont.), who was named player of the game for Stoney Creek, scored the game-winning goal with 1:20 remaining in the third period, beating Fraser Valley goaltender Rebecca Noble (North Delta, B.C.) to cap off a four-goal period for the Sabres.

"At the beginning of the year, I did not know if we would make it here. It was just a dream, and now that dream has come true,” Burr said. “We are such a close group, we are always spending time together and we all get along very well, and it is so special to share this moment with our entire team.”

Leah Barnard (Anmore, B.C.) opened the scoring for Fraser Valley on the power play just over three minutes into the game before Maren Capannelli (Oakville, Ont.) evened the score early in the second period. Fraser Valley took a 3-1 lead late in the middle frame after Jade Lore (Richmond, B.C.) and Aynsley D’Ottavio (Rosedale, B.C.) beat Stoney Creek goaltender Tara Bach (Oakville, Ont.).

The Sabres responded early in the third, with Ashlyn Carter (Milton, Ont.) pulling Stoney Creek within one just 1:36 into the period. Burr and Peyton Anzivino (Hamilton, Ont.) each scored to take the lead just past the midway point of the final period. Fraser Valley retook the lead off the stick of Hannah Dods (Chilliwack, B.C.) 47 seconds later before Burr’s individual effort sealed the game and maintained Stoney Creek’s unblemished record.

“This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am moving up to [OWHL U22 Elite] with the majority of this group next year, and this is an amazing way to end our season,” said Stoney Creek Sabres head coach Taylor Abbott (Hamilton, Ont.). “Our players might not realize how special this moment is right now, but it is definitely something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Stoney Creek goaltender Mya Castrillo (Hamilton, Ont.) made seven saves in relief of Bach, while Noble turned aside 20 shots and was named player of the game for the Rush.                                              

Regina Rebels defeat Northern Selects 5-1 to win bronze

Earlier in the day, Regina rebounded from a 1-0 loss to Fraser Valley in the semifinals to win the bronze medal, defeating the Northern Selects 5-1 to secure its first-ever medal at the Esso Cup.

“We are such a tight-knit group, and we are all like sisters. I think that played a major role in us getting back to focusing on taking home a medal [after losing in the semifinals],” said Regina Rebels captain Greta Henderson (Regina, Sask.). “We are super excited to leave with a bronze medal because we made history, and it is really exciting to be the first Regina Rebels team to win a medal at the Esso Cup.”

Rayna Hennie (Weyburn, Sask.) scored the eventual game-winner for Regina just over five minutes into the second period, shortly after Julia MacDonald (Antigonish, N.S.) evened the score for the Selects. Henderson, who was named Top Forward of the 2023 Esso Cup following the semifinals, scored her tournament-leading eighth and ninth goals to help lead Regina to its best-ever finish at the Esso Cup.

Chloe Sorenson (Bienfait, Sask.) made 24 saves in the win, while Jorja Burrows (New Glasgow, N.S.) turned aside 41 shots for the Selects.

To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Thanks to our friends at Esso, scholarships are presented at each regional championship as well as at the Esso Cup, Canada’s Women's U18 National Club Championship. The Esso Cup Scholarship recognizes individuals that demonstrate outstanding academic and athletic performance, as well as involvement in the community.

The 2023 Esso Cup Scholarship recipient is Prince Albert Bears forward Jasmine Kohl. The 18-year-old is actively involved in her hometown of Moose Jaw, volunteering with Meals on Wheels with her mom, buying Christmas presents for seniors in town and assisting with the Moose Jaw Minor Hockey Association.

HC: What plans do you have for your education and hockey future?

JK: I am committed to Lake Forest College, just outside of Chicago. I'm going there to do psychology. And then when I come back to Canada, I will major in psychiatry. I’ve loved helping people my whole life, so it's the job for me. I'm super excited about it. When I'm [at Lake Forest], I'm playing softball and hockey, so that's really cool that I get to do both sports.

HC: What does it mean to receive this Esso Cup Scholarship?

JK: I talked to my team manager about it, and I went into it thinking, “You know what? I'll give it a shot.” I'm super passionate about this sport. […] When I got the call from Hockey Canada [and was told] that I won, my first words to a tee were, “Oh my god, really?” I was absolutely stunned. I was blown away because it's kind of like a pat on the back. You worked so hard for so many years, and you finally like get something. It's a big deal. I was super pumped about it.

HC: Why do you love hockey?

JK : I have a lot of reasons. One of my main reasons is I love people. I love meeting new people; I love experiencing different life things with new people. Through playing hockey and moving away from home to play hockey, I've met so many new people and new friends along the way. That’s built up my confidence in many things. For the actual sport, I love playing the game because it's always testing my brain capacity. […] You're broadening your mind on all these drills, all these new plays. You can have a good hockey IQ on the ice, and that's something that I feel like I've improved on. I just enjoy every moment of it.

Stoney Creek Sabres 3, Northern Selects 0

• Aubrey Morrison (Grimsby, Ont.) scored the eventual game-winner midway through the second period, sending Stoney Creek to the gold medal game.
• Peyton Anzivino (Hamilton, Ont.) and Madison Burr (Paris, Ont.) contributed a goal and an assist each.
• Tara Bach (Oakville, Ont.) turned in a 21-save shutout.

Fraser Valley Rush 1, Regina Rebels 0

• Vienna Rubin (West Vancouver, B.C.) scored the lone goal for the Rush with nine seconds remaining in the second period.
• Solana Cooper (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) chipped in with one assist apiece.
• Fraser Valley goaltender Rebecca Noble (North Delta, B.C.) recorded a 34-save shutout.

2023 Esso Cup Award Recipients:

• Esso Scholarship ($1000): Jasmine Kohl (Moose Jaw, Sask.), Prince Albert Bears
• Most Sportsmanlike Player: Kendall Doiron (Antigonish, N.S.), Northern Selects
• Top Goaltender: Béatrice Plouffe (Repentigny, Que.), Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière
• Top Defenceman: Aynsley D’Ottavio (Rosedale, B.C.), Fraser Valley Rush
• Top Forward: Greta Henderson (Saskatoon, Sask.), Regina Rebels
• Most Valuable Player: Madison Burr (Paris, Ont.), Stoney Creek Sabres

Next Games (Saturday, April 29):

Bronze medal game: Northern Selects vs. Regina Rebels – 12 p.m. MT/2 p.m. ET

Gold medal game: Fraser Valley Rush vs. Stoney Creek Sabres – 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET, while the bronze medal game can be live-streamed at HockeyCanada.ca. To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

Quotes:

“It is a little surreal [to win MVP and play in the gold medal game]. It is unbelievable because at the beginning of the year I did not expect any of this to happen, but the whole year and this experience has been unreal.

“We all tried to keep our cool throughout the game, and I think we did that pretty well. We wanted to play our game because we knew [the Northern Selects] are a tough team to play against. We stuck to our game plan, played a strong game and stayed focused all game long. “

-      Burr on winning MVP, playing for gold and the challenge of playing the Selects

“You can not have a game as good as tonight’s without both teams doing everything they can to be successful. I thought tonight’s game was a great testament for female hockey. It was physical but fair, and [Regina] was unbelievable and never let up. That could have been anyone’s game, and I am so proud to have been a part of it. Now we have Stoney Creek up next, and what a great team they are. They are the only undefeated team here, and they won the Ontario region, which is really tough. We are hoping to give them a good game tomorrow.

“[Aynsley D’Ottavio] does so much for our team at both ends of the ice. She is a special player, and she also has to deal with the fact that every other team is trying to figure out how to shut her down. Any time she gets the puck on her stick, there are two or three players on her, but she finds a way to make plays.

-      Fraser Valley Rush head coach Tony Lindsay (Richmond, B.C.) on tonight’s game, playing Stoney Creek in the gold medal game and the play of D’Ottavio

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 3, Fraser Valley Rush 1

• Béatrice Plouffe (Repentigny, Que.) was spectacular in goal for Laurentides-Lanaudière, earning player of the game honours with a 36-save performance.
• Ann-Laurence Dutil (Rosemère, Que.), Loélie Lachapelle (L’Assomption, Que.) and Anaïs Leprohon (Saint-Sauveur, Que.) provided the offence for the Étoiles.

Regina Rebels 7, Northern Selects 3

• Six different skaters scored for the Rebels, including a pair of goals from Greta Henderson (Regina, Sask.), as it secured its second win in as many nights.
• Lily Leblanc (Antigonish, N.S.) chipped in with a pair of assists for the Selects.

Stoney Creek Sabres 6, Prince Albert Bears 1

• Jaela Carter (Niagara Falls, Ont.) turned in a four-point performance (1G, 3A) for the Sabres;
• Holly Vannetten (Simcoe, Ont.) and Caileigh Tiller (St. Catharines, Ont.) chipped in with three points apiece for Stoney Creek.
• Ella Clarke (Saskatoon, Sask.) scored the lone goal for Prince Albert.

Final preliminary round standings:

Next Games (Friday, April 28):

Semifinal #1: Northern Selects vs. Stoney Creek Sabres – 3:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. ET

Semifinal #2: Regina Rebels vs. Fraser Valley Rush – 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET

Both semifinals and the bronze medal game can be live-streamed at HockeyCanada.ca. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET. To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

Quotes:

“It was really special to play in this tournament. Unfortunately, we lost our first two games, but after that we really stepped up our play and were able to win some games. Before the game, I told the team that even if we are not going for [the trophy], we are going all in to win this game and finish the tournament strong. This victory [against Fraser Valley] proved that we can compete with and beat top teams in Canada, and I think we showed how strong we are despite being a young team.”

-      Plouffe on playing at the Esso Cup and the strength of the Étoiles 

“We talked to our team and told them we need some of our players to have break-out games, and they did that today. We need all our players playing their best heading into elimination games. We have a few things we can clean up defensively, but hopefully we have a little more confidence on the offensive side after today’s win.”

-      Regina Rebels head coach Mike Merk (Regina, Sask.) on the mindset heading into the semifinals

“I have been trying to be more confident in myself and take the space on the ice when it is given to me. I wanted to drive wide through the neutral zone and decided I could take [the puck] all the way to the net. I just shot a little backhander and it went in.                 

“Lately we have been a little hard on ourselves, and there has been some stress from being in such a big tournament. I think a game like tonight where we played well and competed hard together was huge for our confidence.”

-      Carter on her goal and finishing the preliminary round with a win

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Fraser Valley Rush 4, Northern Selects 3

• Fraser Valley scored four-consecutive goals, including three in the third period, to overcome a three-goal deficit and secure its third win.
• Vienna Rubin (West Vancouver, B.C.) led the offence for the Rush with a pair of goals.

Stoney Creek Sabres 2, Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 1

• Darragh Browne (Toronto, Ont.) scored the eventual game-winner less than two minutes into the third period, 91 seconds after Laurentides-Lanaudière tied the game.
• Andréanne St-Pierre (Mirabel, Que.) scored the lone goal for the Étoiles, her second of the tournament.

Regina Rebels 5, Prince Albert Bears 2

• Greta Henderson (Regina, Sask.) and Berlin Lolacher (Regina, Sask.) scored two goals apiece to lead the Rebels to its second win.
• Prince Albert goaltender Annika Neufeldt (Waldheim, Sask.) turned in a 48-save performance in her Esso Cup debut.

Next Games (Thursday, April 27):

Fraser Valley Rush vs. Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière – 12 p.m. MT/2 p.m. ET

Northern Selects vs. Regina Rebels – 3:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. ET

Stoney Creek Sabres vs. Prince Albert Bears – 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET

All preliminary-round games, as well as both semifinals and the bronze medal game, can be live-streamed at HockeyCanada.ca. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET. To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

Quotes:

“When we were down 3-0 before the end of the second, we kept telling ourselves to just get one [goal]. We wanted to get one goal before the end of the [second] period, which we did, and we were able to build some momentum. We knew we had a lot of time left, and after our second goal we really started to push. We have to give [the Selects] credit, when we made it 3-3, they really pushed back hard. It really could have been either team’s game, and I thought both teams played great.”

-      Fraser Valley Rush head coach Tony Lindsay (Richmond, B.C.) on his team’s come-from-behind win

“Our defensive play has been great for most of this tournament, and we showed that tonight. I do think we turned the puck over too much, so we will need to clean up a few things before tomorrow’s game. Looking ahead, we need to play well tomorrow so we can regain some of our confidence, and make sure our players are feeling good heading into the semifinals.”

-      Stoney Creek Sabres assistant coach Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ont.) on the team’s defence and preparing for the medal round

“I did not think too much about [the number of shots faced]. I just wanted to stay focused on where the puck was and stop the next shot, and that was my mentality throughout the game. The save [on Greta Henderson’s breakaway] was important. That helped me build some confidence, and that is a key to my success.”

-      Neufeldt on facing over 50 shots

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Stoney Creek Sabres 4, Northern Selects 1

• Caileigh Tiller (St. Catharines, Ont.) scored a pair of second period goals just 2:41 apart to help maintain Stoney Creek’s perfect record.
• Erin MacNeil (New Glasgow, N.S.) netted her first goal of the tournament for the Northern Selects late in the third period.

Fraser Valley Rush 6, Regina Rebels 5

• Three-point performances by Erica Barnard (Anmore, B.C.) and Nahvin Bal (Surrey, B.C.) helped the Fraser Valley Rush secure its second-straight win.
• Greta Henderson (Regina, Sask.) led the offence for Regina with a pair of goals and an assist.

Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 2, Prince Albert Bears 1

• Andréanne St-Pierre (Mirabel, Que.) and Danika Giroux (Repentigny, Que.) provided the offence for the Étoiles with one goal apiece.
• Béatrice Plouffe (Repentigny, Que.) turned aside 38 shots for Laurentides-Lanaudière and Brooke Archer (Mossbank, Sask.) made 36 saves for Prince Albert.

Next Games (Wednesday, April 26):

Fraser Valley Rush vs. Northern Selects – 12 p.m. MT/2 p.m. ET

Stoney Creek Sabres vs. Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière – 3:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. ET

Prince Albert Bears vs. Regina Rebels – 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET

All preliminary-round games, as well as both semifinals and the bronze medal game, can be live-streamed at HockeyCanada.ca. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET. To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

Quotes:

“My teammates are a big part of my success. I could not do it without them because they always assist on my goals and make great passes any time I score. Every pass they make is perfect and right on my tape. I could not ask for better teammates to play with. Our team has a strong bond and great chemistry that we have developed over the past year, and everyone works their hardest at practice.”

-      Stoney Creek Sabres forward Madison Burr (Paris, Ont.) on the team’s chemistry

“I think we played really well. We pushed through when we had some rough patches, and I think our energy helped us get pucks into the net and work through Regina’s pushback on us. [Close] games like that are so exciting because it makes the game interesting, and they are fun because of the team culture we have. When the game is tight, we are all celebrating the little things that happen on the ice, and I think that helps us win games.”

-      Bahl on Fraser Valley’s performance

“Our defence had a lot of pressure on them to get the puck out [as the clock was winding down]. We would have liked to get the puck off the glass and out to avoid so many icings, but we were able to kill time, get the job done and get the win.

“Béatrice [Plouffe] is one of the best goalies in our league right now, and she gives us a chance to win every game. She always keeps us in games, and her performance tonight was no different.”

-      Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière head coach Patrick Laramée (Repentigny, Que.) on the final minutes of the game and the play of Plouffe

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Stoney Creek Sabres 4, Regina Rebels 1

• A second-consecutive three-point game (2G, 1A) from Madison Burr (Paris, Ont.) helped the Stoney Creek Sabres secure its second win.
• Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, Sask.) scored the lone goal for Regina.

Northern Selects 2, Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 1

• Kendall Doiron (Antigonish, N.S.) scored the eventual game-winner just past the midway point of the second period to give the Northern Selects its second win in as many days.
• Maika Gauthier (Mirabel, Que.) recorded her first goal of the tournament for the Étoiles.

Fraser Valley Rush 10, Prince Albert Bears 1

• Hannah Dods (Chilliwack, B.C.) scored a pair of goals as Fraser Valley secured its first win.
• Aynsley D’Ottavio (Rosedale, B.C.), Daphne Meng (Richmond, B.C.) and Nahvin Bal (Surrey, B.C.) had a goal and an assist each for the Rush.
• Prince Albert’s Kinley Brassard (Saskatoon, Sask.) scored short-handed in the first period.

Next Games (Tuesday, April 25):

Northern Selects vs. Stoney Creek Sabres – 12 p.m. MT/2 p.m. ET

Fraser Valley Rush vs. Regina Rebels – 3:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. ET

Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière vs. Prince Albert Bears – 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET

All preliminary-round games, as well as both semifinals and the bronze medal game, can be live-streamed at HockeyCanada.ca. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET. To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

Quotes:

“It was a good opportunity for us to take a timeout before the 5-on-3 power play to get our routes drawn up and make sure we were all aligned, and we were lucky to get a goal and take the lead.

“[Regina] came out flying, and we need to give them a lot of credit. We were a little slow out of the gate, but as long as we can control the puck the way we want, we will have a good chance to win more games.”

-      Stoney Creek Sabres head coach Taylor Abbott (Hamilton, Ont.) on the eventual game-winning goal and controlling the puck

“Our team feels pretty good right now. As the tournament goes on and we keep playing against the good teams that are here, we are going to keep getting better. Personally, I feel like I gained more confidence after getting that first goal. I beat [the Étoiles] defence and went in on a breakaway and shot it on my backhand. It was not the hardest shot, but it went in. I was a little shocked, but it feels good to score the game-winner.”

-      Doiron on the team’s play and her first goal of the 2023 Esso Cup 

“We tried to keep moving the puck and keep moving our feet, and maintain good habits for tomorrow and moving forward. We need to keep getting stronger every game, and that was our message to the team. I thought we did a great job of that tonight.

[The Esso Cup] is so rare because our players get to play against other players from across the country, and to meet those players and see different styles of play. This event is a life-changing experience because we get to meet new people from different places.”

-      Fraser Valley head coach Tony Lindsay (Richmond, B.C.) on the team’s performance and the experience of the Esso Cup

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

Regina Rebels 3, Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière 1

• Greta Henderson (Regina, Sask.), Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, Sask.) and Jada Johns (White City, Sask.) provided the offence for the Rebels with one goal apiece.
• Laurentides-Lanaudière goaltender Béatrice Plouffe (Repentigny, Que.) turned in a 42-save performance.

Stoney Creek Sabres 5, Fraser Valley Rush 2

• Madison Burr (Paris, Ont.) scored a pair of goals and added an assist to help Stoney Creek register its first win.
• Aynsley D’Ottavio (Rosedale, B.C.) scored on the power play and added an assist for the Rush.

Northern Selects 4, Prince Albert Bears 3

• A three-goal second period from the Northern Selects, including two from Laci Boyd (Antigonish, N.S.), was the difference as the Atlantic representatives downed the host Prince Albert Bears.
• Sasha Malenfant (Prince Albert, Sask.) scored a pair of goals for the Bears.

Next Games (Monday, April 24):

Regina Rebels vs. Stoney Creek Sabres – 12 p.m. MT/2 p.m. ET

Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière vs. Northern Selects – 3:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. ET

Prince Albert Bears vs. Fraser Valley Rush – 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET

All preliminary-round games, as well as both semifinals and the bronze medal game, can be live-streamed at HockeyCanada.ca. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET. To download game highlights from the 2023 Esso Cup, please CLICK HERE.

Quotes:

“It is always important to start a tournament with a win. We have played three tournaments and I always tell our team at the start that we have one life, and we want to hang on to that life as long as possible. That first win is important to get early, especially when you get deeper into the tournament. We were really excited coming into today’s game, and we know we have a goal we want to accomplish.”

-      Regina Rebels head coach Mike Merk (Regina, Sask.) on the team’s first win.

“It feels great to get our first win. I thought we played a great game, and we battled hard along the boards all night and were able to come away with a lot of loose pucks. We are so excited to be here, and there were some nerves coming into today, but we are handling that pressure well. We are ready for tomorrow’s game because it will be fun to play against all these talented teams.”

-      Stoney Creek Sabres captain Peyton Anzivino (Hamilton, Ont.) on the win and excitement around the tournament

“I am very proud. It was a long travel day yesterday and you try to get adjusted as quick as possible, but there are no excuses because Prince Albert played really well tonight. This is their home rink and they played hard, and sometimes you luck out and come away with an ugly win. I do not think we played our best, but having been [at the Esso Cup] before, we know that getting three points tonight was important and we will keep getting better.”

-      Northern Selects head coach Craig Clarke (Pictou, N.S.) on his team’s tournament-opening win

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #EssoCup.

With a busy hockey schedule, it’s sometimes hard to balance other activities. That’s why Fraser Valley Rush defender Jade Lore was extra excited to be able to play in a high school basketball tournament in December 2021.

“I hadn’t been able to go to many games because of hockey,” Lore says. “I got dressed, I didn’t actually think my basketball coach would put me in, but she did, so I played.”

Unfortunately, as the then-16-year-old was running down the court, she tore her ACL and meniscus in her right knee—an injury that would ultimately sideline her for over 10 months.

“It was really hard,” Lore says. “I took it pretty rough because I went from playing hockey every day, practicing it, to all of a sudden not doing it at all.”

What made matters harder for Lore was her team was having a fantastic season in the British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL), eventually winning the Pacific Region title to qualify for the Esso Cup, Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship, for the first time in eight years.

Although it could have been easy to stay at home and be withdrawn during the season, the Richmond, B.C., native stayed with the Rush every step of the way. She watched each practice, joined the team at games and even travelled for tournaments, like the 2022 Esso Cup in Okotoks, Alta.

“The whole experience for me was both an amazing opportunity that I’m super grateful for, but also a very tough one at the same time,” Lore explains. “It was always hard having to watch my team play on such a big stage. I would always want to be out there with them, but obviously I couldn’t. I just tried to be on the sidelines helping them in any way that I could, cheering them on.”

While Lore was supporting the Rush while they were on the ice, her teammates were there for her off the ice.

“My team is less like a team and more like a family. They are all my sisters,” Lore says. “They were always checking in on me, […] they always reminded me that I was still a part of the team even though I was off the ice. That really helped me. I think that they helped me in a bigger way than I helped them.”

That support was shown to Lore in a variety of ways. Her teammates would help her navigate when Lore was on crutches. If Lore was doing homework on the bench, her team would assist her in getting caught up.

“If they saw that I was down, they would make a joke or dance for me, do whatever they could to make me laugh, which was really helpful,” she says. “If I didn’t have them, I would be a lot more shut down and not really want to talk about it. My mental health wouldn’t be as good because they really did help me through that whole process.”

Throughout last season while Lore watched the Rush from the stands, head coach Tony Lindsay had a reminder for her: “This will be you next year.” After returning in the middle of November with a welcome back “rookie lap” on the ice, Lore finally had a chance to help the Rush on their road to the Esso Cup.

“Tony did bring up how he wanted to get us back so that I could play, which was very meaningful to me to see how badly he wanted me to play in the Esso Cup,” Lore says. “I’m super excited we’re going back.”

Although her return to the ice is complete, her experience recovering from her knee injury helped her be there for her teammate, Emily Chan, when she tore her ACL last October.

“Jade was injured and still recovering when I tore mine, so I had her to watch games with me and guide me through the first part,” the 15-year-old Chan says. “It was really nice to hear from her and see how she dealt with this struggle.”

“I was in her shoes,” Lore adds. “It’s very hard for somebody to encourage, but also help and talk deeply about the injury if you haven’t had it.

“I’m glad I could be there for her.”

Recovering from any injury is not just physical—every athlete also has to recover mentally. As Lore and Chan discovered, having a dedicated support system of family, friends and teammates can make all the difference.

“It’s nice having someone you can relate to, because the thing a lot of people don’t understand about this injury is that it’s a really tough mental game more than it is physical,” Chan says. “[My teammates] have helped me a lot, and I don’t think I’d be where I am without their support.”

“Like Tony was saying to me last year, this is going to be [Emily] next year,” Lore says. “She’s young, so she’s still got a lot ahead of her. I’m proud of her progress. She’s doing good.”

Going through adversity like injuries proves the bonds made on the ice in hockey are not limited to the rink. Those connections extend into every aspect of a player’s life, and players like Chan and Lore are grateful for that support from their second family.

“Without a doubt, hockey has helped me so much,” Chan says. “I think the best part about hockey is obviously the sport, but also the people that come along with it. That just means so much.”

“It just meant a lot how my team was there for me,” Lore adds. “I think that’s the most important part because our team is a family. We’re always there for each other.”