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St. Albert Slash skate in medal playoffs

Esso Cup champions the last two years finish fourth in round robin for spot in medal round at midget AAA female nationals
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SCREENED – Joelle Fiala of the Saskatoon Stars sets up shop in front of St. Albert Slash netminder Brianna Sank in Tuesday's round-robin game at the 11th annual Esso Cup in Sudbury, Ont. The Stars scored the winning goal with 5:28 remaining in the third period for the 3-2 decision. The teams faced-off in Friday's semifinal and the score was unavailable at press time. In the round robin, the Stars (4-1, 26 GF/16 GA) finished first and the Slash (2-2-1, 11 GF/11 GA) placed fourth. Last year the Slash repeated as midget AAA female national champions with the 2-1 victory over the Stars in the final at Bridgewater, N.S. HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES

The St. Albert Slash are competing for a medal today at the Esso Cup.

The outcome from Friday’s semifinal against the Saskatoon Stars will determine if the gold medallists the last two years at the midget AAA female nationals will play the host Sudbury Wolves or the Stoney Creek (Ont.) Sabres in the final or the third-place game.

The score against Saskatoon was unavailable at press time.

Visit www.hockeycanada.ca or the Esso Cup website for updates.

In the six-team round robin, Saskatoon (4-1, 26 GF/16 GA) placed first and the Slash (2-2-1, 11 GF/11 GA) finished fourth.

Tuesday’s 3-2 win by Saskatoon over the Slash was decided on the lone goal in the third period by the Stars with 5:28 remaining in regulation time.

Halle Helperl poked the puck across the goal line after netminder Brianna Sank pulled off a couple of tough saves during a scramble around the crease.

In the opening period, Saskatoon capitalized twice during a two-minute five-on-three power play as Dayle Ross (body-checking) and Kiah Vail (hooking) were penalized at the 8:44 mark.

It took Saskatoon six seconds to strike on the power play as Chace Sperling tipped in a point shot and Kaitlin Jockims made it 2-0 with a snap shot from the slot at 9:29.

The Slash replied in the middle frame as Jenna Goodwin tapped in a backdoor pass from captain Madison Willan and 7:23 minutes later Alexis Butz deposited a rebound from a Tianna Yaremko shot for the equalizer.

Sank faced 28 shots while Arden Kliewer of Saskatoon was tested 25 times.

It was the first tilt between the teams since the Slash beat Saskatoon 2-1 in last year’s final after the Stars prevailed in the round robin 4-1 in Bridgewater, N.S. The loss ended a nine-game winning streak at the Esso Cup by the Slash, the first team to ever go 7-0 as national champions in 2017 at Morden, Man.

Tuesday's loss also marked the first time this season the Slash, 32-3-1 (144 GF/33 GA) entering the Esso Cup, dropped two games in a row as the 2018 Hockey Alberta Team of the Year was coming off Monday’s 3-2 overtime setback to Sudbury (4-1, 18 GF/19 GA). Shots were 33-24 for the host team as the Wolves went 3-for-10 on the power play, including the OT winner, compared to the Slash going 0-for-5.

“We’ve had two pretty deflating games and have been working very hard. Losing in overtime (to Sudbury) was pretty deflating when you’ve played so well,” head coach Dan Auchenberg told the Hockey Canada media rep at nationals.

Wednesday the Slash blanked the Halifax Fire 4-0 as Holly Borrett stopped 19 shots in her first start since March 23 at the Final Frozen Four provincials in St. Albert.

The Slash registered 30 shots as Kamea Brezovski jammed a rebound into the back of the net 22 seconds into the contest during a 13-6 shot advantage in the first. Brooklyn Schroeder also finished off a stretch pass from Vail for a breakaway goal while Ross tallied twice on a deflection in the second and a wrister on the power play in the third.

The Slash were credited with 25 shots against Halifax (1-4, 11 GF/34 GA).

“We said, ‘Think defensively first and you’ll get better opportunities to get the offensive,’" Auchenberg said of the game plan against Halifax after the two losses.

The last game before the playoffs was Thursday’s 4-0 loss to Stoney Creek (3-2, 21 GF/12 GA).

A pair at even strength and a power-play tally by the Sabres on 10 shots led to a netminding change with 3:48 left in the first as Borrett replaced Sank.

Megan Warrener turned aside 28 Slash shots and Borrett made 21 saves.

The Slash started off the tournament with Sunday’s 3-1 result against As de Quebec (1-4, 16 GF/20 GA).

Willan lead all Slash scorers in the round robin with four points and Ross produced a team-high three goals.

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