The St. Albert Slash are more than a host team at the Esso Cup — they're medal contenders with a great shot at the gold.
After surprising the Toronto Aeros 4-3 in Sunday's shootout thriller inside a colourfully decorated Performance Arena packed by worshipping fans, the Slash dominated the Atlantic region champion Kings County Kings 5-0 Monday.
"We have this motto: the greatest team that you've never heard of," said Melissa Kueber, captain of the upstart Slash. "We want people to know that we're not just some random team. We know we're the underdogs in this tournament and we want to prove to everyone, from our fans in the stands to all the other teams, that we're supposed to be here.
"Who cares if we didn't win the provincial round? We're here now and that's what we're going to do; we're going to show them that we're meant to be here."
Skating into Tuesday's showdown against the rival Edmonton Thunder, both teams were tied atop the leader board in the six-team round robin draw. The score was unavailable at press time.
"We have to build off these last two games. They're in the past now and we just have to focus on Edmonton. They're our biggest rivals. We know we can beat them. We know their weaknesses. Yeah, they're a strong team but if we all play like we did against Toronto, we have a really good chance of beating them and going 3-0," Kueber said.
Knocking off the Ontario champions gave the Slash instant credibility
"It made a statement that we're here to compete and we're here to win, not just to host it," said right-winger Sabrina Flemming, who scored the team's first goals in both victories. "A lot of players on other teams maybe doubted us because we're the hosts and we don't have a league banner to show off, but I think that's changed now."
The Slash are a team to fear after giving Toronto fits.
"Being the host team no one is expecting anything from us so we just proved them all wrong after beating a team like Ontario, who played exceptionally well," said Emily Mitchell, a stalwart netminder who frustrated the Aeros with 33 quality saves and handled all 27 shots directed her way by the Kings.
Toronto was rated a pre-tournament favourite, along with the Notre Dame Hounds and the Thunder.
"Beating Toronto was huge. It gave our team a lot of confidence because they were supposed to be the top notch team in this tournament," Kueber said. "Hopefully it keeps getting better from here."
Nervous start
The Slash rebounded masterfully from a sluggish opening period, outshot 13-3 and trailing 1-0 on the scoreboard in the first game since their March 12 playoff exit against the Thunder.
"Maybe the nerves got the best of us," Mitchell said.
The hoopla surrounding the well-planned opening ceremonies leading up to the big game left the Slash somewhat star-struck.
"Stepping onto the ice it was like, wow! The feeling was indescribable. I've never played in front of a crowd that big or at a tournament this big. So many emotions were going on in my head," Mitchell said.
In the second period the Slash buckled down and outshot Toronto 10-8 while grabbing a 3-2 lead.
"Even being down 1-0, I wasn't worried. I knew my teammates could put us back into the game. I had confidence in them," Mitchell said.
Flemming, 16, started a three-goal second-period outburst to make it 1-1 at the 2:53 mark on a set-up by Kate Lumley.
"It was a two-on-one and there was a girl kind of on me so I wasn't really sure if I could get the shot off but Kate gave me a perfect pass and I kind of roofed it. The goalie was down and it went straight into the back of the net," said the Grade 11 Strathcona Composite High School student.
Matana Skoye on the power play and Ashley Morin at even strength put the Slash up by two.
With 1:22 left in the period, Toronto capitalized on the power play during a five-minute major to defenceman Brianna Rocque for a check from behind.
Toronto tied it up at 7:34 in the third and came close to potting the go-ahead goal, only to be thwarted by Mitchell.
After 60 minutes, shots were 29-22 for Toronto.
"It was a great battle. It went back and forth but there were tons of penalties," Flemming said.
After the five-minute four-on-four extra period, Kueber scored the only goal in the shootout as the fourth Slash player to go one-on-one against Toronto goalie Taylor Hough.
"I think I faked a shot and then went backhand and then forehand and then shot it like 16 inches off the ice," said the all-time scoring leader in Slash history.
Kueber, 18, described it as the biggest goal of her three-year Slash career.
"To score it at nationals, and for it to be the winner, for sure," said the Grade 12 Paul Kane High School student.
Flemming said Kueber always comes through in the clutch.
"We rely on her and it's great that she pulls through for us."
The entertaining affair ended with Mitchell standing her ground against the last Toronto shooter, Morgan Sly, who nailed the crossbar.
"My heart was just thumping. Just hearing the post, I was so relieved," said Mitchell, 16. "It just happened so fast. I didn't realize what was really going on and then once that happened everything went crazy. I can't even tell you what I was feeling at that moment. It was indescribable pretty much."
Kings crushed
In the next game the Grade 11 Paul Kane student faced only a couple of serious scoring opportunities by the Kings from Prince Edward Island.
The Slash led 1-0 after the first on the second goal in two games by Flemming, who picked the top corner, glove side against Emma Meanor on the power play.
Karly Heffernan and Jessica Kampjes padded the lead in the second. Kampjes' goal was a short-handed gift with 1:15 left in the period, as the Kings pulled Meanor while on the power play and down by two in a strange move that left fans shaking their heads in disbelief.
Meanor, the best player on the ice for the Kings, was also pulled in the third for an extra attacker during another Kings' power play and the Slash in front 3-0.
A shortie by Kueber and the second of the night by Kampjes rounded out the scoring. Shots were 46-27 as the Kings were shut out for the second game in a row.
"It was definitely a different game than it was against Toronto, that's for sure.
"We came out a little slow in the first period but after that we refocused and then got back to our game and came out with the win," said Kueber, who finished the game with two points.
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. the Slash play Notre Dame, the 2010 silver medallists. The last game before the playoffs is Thursday against the Quebec champion Kodiacs du Lac St-Louis at 4 p.m.
If everything goes according to plan, the Slash have a semifinal date Friday at 4 p.m.
Saturday's finals are 2 p.m. (bronze) and 6 p.m. (gold)
Visit www.hockeycanada.ca/essocup for more information.
