Third-period goals send Selects past Stars in Atlantic final
Selects from Nova Scotia repeat as regional champions
An early third-period goal proved to be the difference in the gold-medal game of the 2024 Atlantic under-18 AAA female hockey championship in Corner Brook, N.L., on April 7.
Laci Boyd scored unassisted at 6:21 to give the Northern Subway Selects from Nova Scotia a 3-2 lead over the P.e.i.-champion Down East Auto Parts Eastern Stars. The Selects would add two emptynet goals in the final minute of regulation time to post a 5-2 win and repeat as regional champions.
The Selects will represent the Atlantic region at the Esso Cup Canadian under-18 female hockey championship in Vernon, B.C., April 21-27.
The final, played at the Corner Brook Civic Centre, featured the top two teams in the round robin. The Stars finished in first place with a record of 4-0-0 while the Selects were second at 3-1-0. The Selects’ lone loss – a 1-0 decision – came at the hands of the Stars on April 5.
The Selects jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by Kendall Doiron and Kate Morrow.
The Stars answered back in the second period to tie the game 2-2 on goals by Emily Gardiner and Abby Dingwell to set the stage for the final period.
Hali-rose Maclean and Reese Murray added assists for the Selects while Ellie Mullins, Katelyn Macinnis, Renée Chapman and Taylor Hunter collected helpers for the Stars.
Winning goaltender was Jorja Burrows. Olivia Lowe and Halle Blanchard shared the goaltending duties for the Stars.
Overall, the Selects outshot the Stars 34-30.
AWARDS
Three Stars’ players were presented with tournament awards following round-robin play on April 6.
Gardiner received the award for top scorer in the round robin. Gardiner tallied seven goals and 10 points in four contests.
Team captain Chapman was named the top forward and recipient of the Esso Scholarship. Chapman had four points, including one goal, in four round-robin games.
Dingwell took home the award for top defence. Dingwell finished second in team scoring in the round robin with six points, including two goals in four games.