Lady Wolves claim Esso Cup

The Sudbury Lady Wolves are the 2015 Esso Cup champions.

A pair of first-period goals from captain Karli Shell provided just enough offence, and netminder Danika Ranger took care of the rest, making 19 saves as the Ontario representatives edged the host Red Deer Chiefs 2-1 in the gold-medal game.

A quick start was key for Sudbury, and a two-time Esso Cup tournament "Top Forward" would take care of that. Showing a great deal of patience, Shell circled out from the corner, around three to four defenders before finally unleashing an accurate backhand to give the Lady Wolves a lead less than three minutes in.

Skylar Colonna would get that one back midway through the frame, converting on a two-on-one and beating Ranger on the short-side. But Sudbury would regain the advantage before the end of period one, as Shell took a pass from Meagan McGaughey near the side of the net and quickly circled behind, banking the wrap-around off the skate of Sarah Murray and in.

With their quick puck-pursuit game in high gear, the Lady Wolves limited the Chiefs to no more than eight shots in a single period. The Sudbury ladies advanced to the finals with a rock-solid 3-0 win over the Central Plains Capitals on Friday night, while Red Deer edged the favoured Saskatoon Stars 2-1 in a shootout.

The local midget AA crew had captured their second consecutive Ontario crown a couple of weeks back, surviving a pair of one-goal games before defeating an exhausted Saugeen Maitland Lightning crew 4-1 in the provincial finale.
Sudbury edged the Aurora Panthers 2-1 in their semi-final game, while Saugeen needed eight periods of overtime hockey to take down the Sault Ste. Marie Wildcats 3-2.

The 2014-2015 edition of the Sudbury Lady Wolves included Karli Shell, Jamie Ricci, Sophie Lebrun, Amelie Samson, Alexie Legault, Kennedy Roy, Myla McCormick, Sydney Walker, Mélisa Kingsley, Deidre Debassige, Tayler Murphy, Taylor McGaughey, Carley Olivier, Meagan McGaughey, Kailey Lapensee, Danika Lefrancois, Danika Ranger, and call-ups Darcie Roy and Logan Duffy at nationals.

The coaching staff features head coach Richard Walker, assistant coaches Steve Blinn and Wayne Drabick, trainer Brigette Perron-Ranger and team manager Mark Olivier.