The Prince Albert Northern Bears ran up against a dangerous opponent in their second Esso Cup game. (Rob Mahon/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Bears Fall To Rush

Bears fall against Rush in second Esso Cup contest

Apr 25, 2023 | 8:44 AM

After a competitive showing in their first outing at the Esso Cup, the Prince Albert Northern Bears ran into the dangerous combination of bad luck and a great opponent in the second.

Nine different players on the Fraser Valley Rush scored, and the Bears fell 10-1 in their second game of the national championship. Kinley Brassard scored the lone tally of the night for Prince Albert.

“We felt it was important to stay with them in the first period, and shot wise, we were close,” said head coach Steve Young. “But they got some goals and put us on our heels right away. They’re the type of team, when you’re on your heels, they’re going to push you and that’s what they did tonight.”

Fraser Valley wasted no time out of the gate, with Hannah Dods scoring on a 2-on-1 just 1:30 into the first period and rolling from there, rattling off three goals in the first half of the first period.

In the back half of the first, the Bears got some momentum back thanks to Brassard, who pulled away shorthanded and fired a shot to the top corner to get the Bears back within two, and give their bench some life.

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“It was all a thrill,” Brassard said of her goal. “It was so blurry and just all in the moment. It was exciting and overall amazing.”

At that point, however, the momentum swung back in Fraser Valley’s favour, and they never really lost it. With just over two minutes left in the first, the Rush forechecked on a shorthanded situation of their own, forced a turnover, and got a shorthanded goal from Daphne Meng to restore their three-goal lead. Before the first period was out, they’d stretched their lead to 5-1.

The second period was no kinder to the Bears with the Rush striking three more times, two of them on delayed penalties. Heading into the third, the goal was for the Bears to get back into good habits.

“We just said going into the third it’s important we win that period and work hard,” Young said. “You still have to play, you still have to work hard, and you’re still playing the same team, so we set the standard that it’s important we compete.”

The Bears did indeed work hard, but Fraser Valley’s offence was too much to overcome. Dodd tacked on another goal, and Maggie Fitzpatrick closed the scoring out with just 2:09 to play.

With the loss, the Bears fall to 0-2 on the tournament, with their third game coming on Tuesday night against Quebec champion Etoiles De Laurentides-Lanaudiere. Game time is 7 p.m.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP