Updated April 28, 11:15 a.m. EDT

The eyes of Canadian hockey looked to opposite ends of the country starting on Sunday, April 21, as the Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championships get underway.

First, we turned to the West as the puck drops April 21 on the Esso Cup, a six-team tournament that determines the Canada Women's U18 AAA national championship. Then, on April 22, play began at the TELUS Cup, which crowns the Boys U18 AAA national champs, in Nova Scotia.

The 2024 Esso Cup brought together five regional champions from across the country, plus the host Thompson-Okanagan Lakers, to compete for Canada's Women’s U18 National Club Championship, April 21-27 at Kal Tire Place in Vernon, B.C. Provincial champions from Ontario and Quebec advanced directly to the Esso Cup, while the remaining berths were filled by regional champions from Pacific, West and Atlantic and the hosts.

 

CLICK HERE for six things you need to know about the Esso Cup

CLICK HERE for the Esso Cup bracket

CLICK HERE for the team rosters

CLCK HERE for updated standings

CLICK HERE for updated team statistics

CLICK HERE for updated player statistics

 

2024 Esso Cup Award Winners

MVP - Stryker Zablocki, Regina Rebels

Best Forward - Berlin Lolacher, Regina Rebels

Best Defender - Ciara Lang, Edmonton Jr. Oilers

Best Goaltender - Jorja Burrows, Northern Selects

Most Sportsmanlike - Sydney Bowness, North York Storm

 

This year's Esso Cup featured five of Canada's top-nine teams, according to the latest MHR rankings, along with the hosts, 15th-ranked Thompson-Okanagan. Congratluations to the teams that competed in the 2024 Esso Cup (Canada rankings as of April 17):

 

Final Standings

#2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers White (Pacific) - 4-1-0, 11 pts (OT win)

#3 Regina Rebels (West) - 3-2-0, 11 pts (2 OT losses)

#15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (Host) - 2-3-0, 8 pts (SO win)

#6 North York Storm (Ontario) - 2-3-0, 6 pts (OT win & loss) 

#9 Northern Selects (Atlantic) - 2-3-0, 5 pts (OT win)

#7 Outaouais Intrepide (Quebec) - 1-4-0, 3 pts (SO loss)

Congratulations to the 2024 ESSO Cup Champion Regina Rebels!

 

2024 Esso Cup Schedule & Results

All times Eastern. Games played at Kal Tire Palace in Vernon, B.C.

 

Sunday, April 21 

2:00 p.m. - #6 North York Storm (7), #3 Regina Rebels (6) OT

CLICK HERE for the game summary

CLICK HERE for the North York Storm preview

CLICK HERE for the Regina Rebels preview

Sydney Bowness scored 4:22 into overtime to complete her hat trick after Lily Paisley had scored at with 5:53 lef in the third period to force the extra session as North York rallied for a thrilling Day 1 victory. Regina led from the outset, getting two goals from Berlin Lolacher, another from Avery Gottselig and fourth from Stryker Zablocki in sprint to a 4-1 lead 42 seconds into the second period. But Maren Capannelli and Demi Lazarou answered a few miuntes later with goals 31 seconds apart before Olivia VanSickle and Bowness tallied late in he period to push the Storm in front. Lolacher answered 42 seconds into the third to finish off her hatty, and Cedar Swan gave the Rebels the lead again at 11:12 of the final frame. 

 

6:00 p.m. - #2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (3), #7 Outaouais Intrepide (1)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

CLICK HERE for the Edmonton Jr. Oilers preview

CLICK HERE for the Outaouais Intrepide preview

Edmonton scored once in each period and piled up a 36-21 shots advantage to start the tournament with a victory on Day 1. Layla Matthew and Julia Curran scored power-play goals, and Ella Lloyd finished off the scoring for the Jr. Oilers in the third period. Laurence Lafleur tallied in the final five minutes of the game for the Intrepide. Ella Dunham-Fox made 20 saves to earn the win in goal. 

 

10:00 p.m. - #15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (2), #9 Northern Selects (0)

CLICK HERE for the game summary 

CLICK HERE for the Thompson-Okanaga Lakers preview 

CLICK HERE for the Northern Selects preview

Reese Sliskovic made 27 saves to earn the shutout and lead the hosts to a Day 1 victory. Jora Burrows made 38 saves for the Selects. The game was scoreless until Mena Bhatt tallied 4:11 into the second period, and Emma Kohl provided the insurance by scoring with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game. 

 CLICK HERE for the top plays from Day 1

 

Monday, April 22 

2:00 p.m. - #7 Outaouais Intrepide (1), #3 Regina Rebels (7)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

The Rebels arrived in ill humor and took it out on the Intrepide, scoring six times in the fist two periods in an important Day 2 win in which they recorded a 42-28 shots advantage. Addison Greve and Berlin Lolacher led the onslaught with two goals and an assist each, with Stryer Zablocki adding 1-1-2 and winning netminder Hannah Tresek stopping 27 shots. 

 

6:00 p.m. - #9 Northern Selects (3), #6 North York Storm (2) OT

CLICK HERE for the game summary 

The Storm needed overtime to decide the outcome of their game for the second day in row, but this time they came up on the short end as Laci Boyd delivered the OT game-winning goal for the Selects in a must-win game. Boyd's winner came after the selects rallied from a two-goal deficit by scoring late third-period goals less than a minute apart. Boyd finished with a goal and two assists, while Aylee Glenn and Reese Murray added a goal each. Annabella Van Berkel and Cassie Kalic scored for the Storm. Jorja Burrows stopped 46 shots in a heroic effort for the winners. 

 

10:00 p.m. - #2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (2), #15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (3)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

The hosts improved to 2-0, scoring three times on just 13 shots while goalie Reese Sliskovic made 35 saves as the Lakers knocked off a top-10 team for the second-straight day. Thompson-Okanagan led, 3-1, before Daniella Martorana cut the margin to one in the final minute. Lily Roberts scored twice for the winners, and Hannah Robertson added the other Laker goal 

CLICK HERE for the top plays from Day 2 

CLICK HERE for the three stars from Day 2

 

Tuesday, April 23

1:00 p.m. - #7 Outaouais Intrepide (1), #9 Northern Selects (3)

CLICK HERE for lthe game summary

Maya de Beaumont tied the game at one seven minutes into the second, but the Selects responded with two second-period goals and shut the door in the third perid. Jorja Burrows was outstanding in goal again, making 36 saves to earn the win. Hali-Rose MacLean scored twice for the victors, with Kendall Doiron adding the insurance goal. 

 

4:30 p.m. - #15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (0), #6 North York Storm (5)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

After opening the tournament with two victories, the hosts were stunned by four North York goals in the opening period. Olvia VanSickle and Abrianne Brumwell tallied in the game's first 4:28, with VanSickle scoring again at 14:18 and Anabella Van Berkel making it 4-0 4:21 later. Sydney Bowness buried the fifth goal two minutes into the middle frame, and Brigitte Armatys made 25 saves to earn the shutout. 

 

8:00 p.m. - #3 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (2), 2 Regina Rebels (1) OT

CLICK HERE for the game summary

These two teams played more than three periods worth of scoreless hockey after each tallied in the game's first 1:07, but Layla Matthew brought the game to a screeching halt with the game-winning overtime marker at 2:54 of the extra session. Edmonton netminder Ella Dunham-Fox was her team's other hero, stopping 33 of 34 shots sent her way to keep the Jr. Oilers alive. Hannah Tresek made 23 saves for Regina. Stryker Zablocki scored for Regina, while Riley Scorgie had the other Edmonton goal. 

CLICK HERE for the top plays from Day 3

CLICK HERE for the three stars from Day 3

 

Wednesday, April 24

1:00 p.m. - #15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (2), #3 Regina Rebels (6)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

Six goals were scored in the first period, with Regina rallying for a 4-2 lead after Mena Bhatt opened the scoring for Thompson-Okanagan and then adding a pair of tallies in the opening eight minutes of the middle stanza. Stryker Zablocki recorded a hat trick and a helper for the winners, while Hanna Tresek earned the win in goal with 23 saves. Katelyn Marshall, Kadence Dansereau and Berlin Lolacher also scored for the winners. Lily Roberts had the second Laker goal. 

 

4:30 p.m. - #7 Outaouais Intrepide (5), #6 North York Storm (3)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

Outaouais earned a much-needed victory and kept its playoff hopes alive as Laurence Lafleur scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal 2:24 into the third period. Sydney Bowness scored just 20 seconds later to pull North York to within a goal, but Abigaēl Blais taillied short-handed to put the game away three minutes later. Marielle Séguin-Letorneau made 32 saves to pick up the win in goal as the Storm compiled a 35-32 shots advantage. Kélia Gilbert and Genevieve Godin netted the other Intrepide goals, with Lafleur, Gilbert and Godin also recording assists. Bowness also handed out an assist for North York. 

 

8:00 p.m. - #9 Northern Selects (4), #2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (1)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

After skating to a 1-1 tie through the opening 20 minutes, Edmonton scored the final three goals of the game to earn an important Day 4 victory. The Jr. Oilers ran up a 56-14 shots-on-goal advantage, but Selects netminder Jorja Burrows continued her stellar play, finishing with 52 saves. Ella Dunham-Fox stopped 13 shots to record the win and picked up and assist on a short-handed goal by Claire Carruthers. Four different Oilers scored, with Tayla Lamabe recording a goal and an assist. Kendall Doiron had the lone Selects tally. 

CLICK HERE for the top plays from Day 4 

CLICK HERE for the three stars from Day 4

 

Thursday, April 25

2:00 p.m. - #6 North York Storm (1), #2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (4)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

Edmonton scored the game's first three goals, taking a 3-0 lead into the final 20 minutes before securing the win. Claire Carruthers scored twice for the winners, with Ella Lloyd and Layla Matthew also tallying. Lloyd had a goal and an assist, and Daniella Martorana assisted on the Jr. Oilers' first two goals. Ciara Lang also dished out a pair of helpers. Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe earned the win in goal with 24 saves, while Demi Lazarou had the lone North York goal. 

 

6:00 p.m. - #3 Regina Rebels (4), #9 Northern Selects (3)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

Regina built a 4-1 lead and took a two-goal advantage into the final 20 minutes before holding off a late Selects rally. Hali-Rose MacLean pulled Northern withinin a goal at 11:37 of the final period, but winning goalie Hannah Tresek held the Selects off to record the win. Tresek finished with 16 saves, but Selects goalie Jorja Burrows once again was the story of the game, stopping 73 shots. Berlin Lolacher scored twice for the winners, with Addison Greve and Ashley Breitkreuz also providing goals. Brooklyn Nimegeers dished out two helpers for the winners. Kendall Doiron and Brooke Williams had the other goals for the Selects, and Laci Boyd handed out two assists. 

 

10:00 p.m. - #7 Outaouais Intrepide (1), #15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (2) SO

CLICK HERE for the game summary

It took overtime and a six-round shootout, but the hosts won a thriller to secure a spot in Friday's semifinals despite being outshot, 52-22. Maya de Beaumont put the Intrepide in front, 1-0, at 5:57 of the second period with Abigaël Blais and Elyssa LaLonde picking up the assists. Emma Kohl forced overtime with 5:16 remaining in the third period, scoring for the Lakers with Emma Kohl getting the assist. Amy Polvere became the hero in the sixth round of the shootout, beeting Noémie Germain (21 saves) to send her team to the semis. Reese Sliskovic continued her strong play in goal for the Lakers, stopping 51 shots and turning aside all six shootout attempts. 

CLICK HERE for the top plays from Day 5

CLICK HERE for the Day 5 three stars

  

 

Friday, April 26 

6:00 p.m. - #2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (1), #6 North York Storm (4)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

The Storm saved their best for the semis, scoring four times in the final two periods to advance to the gold-medal game. North York broke open a scoreless tie with three goals in the final 10:05 of the middle frame, with Hannah Ahlberg, Lily Paisley and Abrianne Brumwell scoring. Sydney Bowness assisted on two of those scores, and Paisley added a helper on Ahlberg's marker. Maggie Cousineau's third-period power-play goal pushed the margin to 4-0 before Riley Scorgie finally got Edmonton on the board in the final minute. Jamie Sanford made 16 saves to earn the win in goal. 

  

10:00 p.m. - #3 Regina Rebels (4), #15 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (1)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

The hosts' Cinderealla run finally came to a halt as the Rebels scored three times in the opening 20 minutes and cruised into the gold-medal game. Berlin Lolacher set the tone on the game's first shift, scoring 36 seconds in before Ashley Breitkreuz extended the lead to 2-0 four minutes later. Rayna Hennie scored on the power play at 12:24 of the opening frame, and Stryker Zablocki got her customary goal to close the scoring 13 minutes into the second period. Kadence Dansereau assisted on two of the four goals, and winning netminder Hannah Tresek stopped 24 shots. Reese Sliskovic continued her strong play in goal for the Lakers with 34 saves, and Emma Deleurme had the lone Laker goal. 

CLICK HERE for the top plays from the Semifinals

CLICK HERE for the three stars of the Semifinals

 

Saturday, April 27 Bronze Medal Game

3:00 p.m. - #15 Thompson-Okanangan Lakers (0), #2 Edmonton Jr. Oilers (1) OT

CLICK HERE for the game summary

Edmonton's Layla Matthew brought this classic defensive battle to a screeching halt by burying the game-winning goal 4:18 into overtime to give the Jr. Oilers the bronze medal. Willing goalie Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe stopped all 12 shots she faced to defeat one of the stars of the tournament, Reese Sliskovic, who finished with 34 saves. 

 

Gold Medal Game 

7:00 p.m. - #3 Regina Rebels (2), #6 North York Storm (1)

CLICK HERE for the game summary

Regina's two second-period goals held up despite North York's late rally as the Rebels captured the gold medal and the national championship. Tournament MVP Stryker Zablocki scored the eventual game-winner 15:03 into the second period, less than three minutes after Berlin Lolacher had given Regina a 1-0 lead. North York's Lily Paisley cut the margin to 2-1 with 6:23 left in the game, but Rebels netminder Hannah Tresek held off the Storm the rest of the way, finishing with 26 saves. North York's Jamie Sanford was outstanding in goal, finishing with 47 saves. 

CLICK HERE for Gold Medal Game highlights

CLICH HERE for the three stars of Championship Saturday