Stars lock up first in round robin standings at Esso Cup

Saskatoon improves to 4-0 with 6-0 win over host squad

Grace Shirley had a goal and an assist for the Stars.

    The Saskatoon Stars will be the top stars going into the playoff round at the Esso Cup.

    On Wednesday at the female midget AAA hockey national championship tournament, Saskatoon overwhelmed the host Metro Boston Pizza squad 6-0 and held a 49-6 edge in shots on goal at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater, N.S.

    With the win, the Stars improved to 4-0 and secured first place in the round robin standings. This marked the first time the Stars have finished first in the preliminary round in three visits to the Esso Cup. Saskatoon finished second in the preliminary round in 2015 at the tournament in Red Deer, Alta., and third in 2016 at the tournament held in Weyburn, Sask.
    The six shots on goal by Metro Boston Pizza marked the lowest number of shots on goal any team has posted in a tournament game in the history of the Esso Cup.

    In Wednesday’s clash with Metro Boston Pizza, the Stars were led by superstar captain Mackenna Parker, who recorded two goals and two assists in the convincing outcome.

Mackenna Parker had two goals and two assists for the Stars.

    Centres Joelle Fiala and Grace Shirley and defender Ashley Messier each had a goal and an assist, while standout right-winger Anna Leschyshyn had a pair of assists.

    Parker scored just 31 seconds into the contest to give the Stars a 1-0 edge. Fiala added a power-play marker at the 13:51 mark of the opening frame to give the Stars a 2-0 lead. Saskatoon held a 12-2 edge in shots on goal over the opening 20 minutes.

    The Stars continued to pin the host side in their own zone in the second period holding a 22-2 edge in shots on goal for the frame. Metro Boston Pizza goalie Brooke Bennett was sensational making 21 saves in the stanza only allowing a goal from Messier, which gave the Stars a 3-0 edge.

    Saskatoon continued to put on the pressure in the third. Skilled left-winger Kaitlin Jockims scored at the 7:41 mark of the third to give the Stars a 4-0 advantage. Parker and Shirley each added a power-play goal to round out the game’s scoring.

    Arden Kliewer made six saves to pick up the shutout win in goal for the Stars. Bennett turned away 43 shots to take the setback in goal for Metro Boston Pizza, who fell to 0-3-1.

Ashley Messier had a goal and an assist for the Stars on Wednesday.

    The six teams at the Esso Cup play in a round robin qualifying round with the top four teams earning spots in the playoff round. The defending champion St. Albert Slash (3-1) from Alberta locked up a playoff spot on Wednesday with a 4-1 win over the Northern Subway Selects (1-2-1) from New Glasgow, N.S.

    Saskatoon closes out round robin play against the Selects on Thursday. The Selects go into that contest needing a win to keep their hopes for making the playoff round alive.

    After preliminary round play wraps up on Thursday, the Stars will take part in one of two semifinal games on Friday. The tournament’s bronze and gold medal games are slated for Saturday, and the gold medal final will be shown live at 4 p.m. Saskatchewan time on TSN.

    The Stars are trying to become the first Saskatchewan based team since the Weyburn Gold Wings in 2014 to win the Esso Cup.

Hey @StoonStarsAAA keep kicking butt at Esso!! you’re making Sask proud😊

— Abby Soyko (@abbysoyko_10) April 25, 2018

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Stars return to Esso Cup final four

Mackenna Parker scored for the Stars.

    The Saskatoon Stars are returning to the semifinal round of the Esso Cup for a second straight year, but they did it in a more dramatic fashion this time around.

    Entering their final preliminary round game Thursday afternoon at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn, the Stars needed to earn at least a point in the standings in a clash against the Bedford, N.S., based Metro Boston Pizza to earn a semifinal berth. Metro Boston Pizza had to pull out a regulation victory to advance to the final four of the national female midget AAA hockey championship tournament.

    Metro Boston Pizza went up 1-0 in the first period on a goal from Rachel Dorey.

    The Stars rallied to pull out a 2-1 victory after Mackenna Parker potted the equalizer in the second period and Grace Shirley netted the winner in the third. Emma Johnson picked up the win in goal for the Stars making 11 saves.

    Josee Thibeau turned away 33 shots taking the loss in the Metro Boston Pizza net.

    Saskatoon won its first two games of the tournament but proceeded to lose two in a row. As a result, the Stars found themselves in a position, where they could potentially miss the playoff round.

    After pulling out a victory in their final preliminary round game, the Stars improved to 3-2 to finish third in preliminary round standings. They face the Brantford Ice Cats (3-1-1) in a semifinal match slated for 3:30 p.m., Saskatchewan time on Friday.

    The other semifinal features the De Winton, Alta., based Rocky Mountain Raiders (3-1-1) going up against the Express du Richelieu (3-2) at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

    Metro Boston Pizza finished last in the six-team tournament with a 1-3-1 mark. The host Weyburn Gold Wings won their final two contests to finish fifth with a 2-3 mark.

    Last year when the Esso Cup was in Red Deer, the Stars didn’t need any final day dramatics to make the semifinal round posting a 4-1 record in the preliminary round. Saskatoon dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to the host Red Deer Chiefs in the semifinal after a tiebreaking shootout. The Stars proceeded to win the bronze medal game downing the Portage la Prairie based Central Plains Capitals 5-1.

    With Thursday’s win over Metro Boston Pizza, the Stars improved their overall record to 45-11 to match their overall win total from the 2014-15 campaign, when they went 45-5.

This year’s Esso Cup in Weyburn closes on Saturday with the bronze and gold medal contests.

Willow Slobodzian controls the puck for the Stars.

    NOTES – Parker and Stars defender Willow Slobodzian were invited to a prospects camp for Canada’s under-18 along with 48 other players on Wednesday. The camp runs May 4-8 in Hamilton, Ont.

    Also attending the camp are forwards and former Stars players Sophie Shirley and Nara Elia, who both suited up for the Notre Dame Hounds club that plays in the Junior Women’s Hockey League. Shirley was a member of Canada’s under-18 this past season. Defender Brooke Hobson of the Prince Albert A & W Bears is also heading to the under-18 game.

    Hockey Canada will also hold a 47-player camp for the national women’s development team from May 4-8 in Hamilton, Ont. Saskatoon product Emily Clark, who a member of Canada’s senior national team, will take part in the development team camp. The standout forward and Stars grad plays for the University of Wisconsin Badgers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.