BREAKING NEWS: Hockey Canada has announced the host locations for….

 Hockey Canada has announced the host locations for Canada’s 2025 U18 national club championships, with the Esso Cup set for Lloydminster, Alberta, and the TELUS Cup returning west to the Fraser Valley in British Columbia.

From April 20-26, the Lloydminster Steelers of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) will welcome five regional champions to compete for Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship at the Centennial Civic Centre, marking the fifth time the Esso Cup has been hosted in Alberta and the first in the Border City.

Vernon, British Columbia -The Regina Rebels won their first Esso Cup, defeating the North York Storm 2-1 in a dramatic final on Saturday afternoon at Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.

Berlin Lolacher (Pilot Butte, SK), the tournament’s best forward, scored the first goal midway through the second period, defeating Storm goaltender Jamie Sanford (Toronto, ON). Sanford proved to be a formidable opponent, stopping 47 of Regina’s 49 shots.

“This is an unbelievable feeling,” Lolacher stated. “I can’t put into words how I’m feeling. Following last year’s bronze medal, we had one aim in mind: win this tournament. So here we are. “This is amazing.”

Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK), the tournament’s most valuable player, scored the eventual game-winner only two minutes after Lolacher broke the tie.

“To go from bronze (in 2023) to gold was our only thought this week,” Zablocki said. “Saskatchewan has always been seen as an underdog, yet here we are, and there is no bunch of females I would rather compete with. I adore this team; these girls, and this emotion is one we will never forget. “I’m proud of our hard work to become national champions. It’s something special.”

Earlier in the day, Edmonton recovered from a 4-1 semifinal loss to North York to capture the bronze medal, defeating host Thompson-Okanagan 1-0 in overtime for the program’s sixth Esso Cup bronze medal.

Captain Layla Matthew (Edmonton, AB) scored the game-winning goal little over four minutes into the extra period.

Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe (Red Deer, AB) got the shutout with 12 saves. The Jr. Oilers, who finished first in the preliminary round, outshot the Lakers 35 to 12.