Northern Bears players line up on the blue line for the National Anthem ahead of their tournament opener on April 23, 2023. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Esso Cup

Gameday preview: Day four at the Esso Cup

Apr 26, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Things are starting to heat up at the 2023 Esso Cup tournament.

With two days left of round-robin play, the standings are getting down to the wire with every team still in the playoff conversation.

Entering Wednesday, here’s the slate for day four at the Esso Cup:

Fraser Valley Rush, 2-1-0 (PAC) vs Northern Subway Selects, 2-1-0 (ATL) – 12:00pm

Two returning teams to the tournament head to battle to kick off Wednesday’s action.

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Both clubs come into today with matching records at 2-1-0 (W-L-OTL) and with a win today, that team will be guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals on Friday. Fraser Valley suffered their only loss of the tournament on day one against Stoney Creek, where they fell 5-2 to open their national title run. Like the Rush, the Selects also fell against the Sabres, with that loss coming last night by a 4-1 decision. The Atlantic representatives will not only look to get back into the win column tonight but will also look for redemption as the Northern Selects fell to Fraser Valley in last year’s tournament 5-4 in a shootout.

Aynsley D’Ottavio, Nahvin Bal, and Vienna Rubin are all tied for the leading point-getter on the Rush, each netting five points in the tournament while Kendall Doiron leads the Selects on the score sheet, potting three points (1g, 2a) in three games.

Stoney Creek Sabres, 3-0-0 (ONT) vs Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière, 1-2-0 (QUE) – 3:30pm

The tournament best takes on a playoff hopeful in the afternoon matinee.

Stoney Creek has been the team to beat so far in the Esso Cup, staying undefeated entering Wednesday. The Ontario representatives have also been locked down on the defensive end, conceding just four goals across their three games. The Étoiles on the other hand are on the chopping block as a loss tonight potentially eliminates them from semi-final contention. The Stars from Quebec have just one win under their belt in the tournament with that victory coming last night against Prince Albert by a 2-1 score.

Stoney Creek’s Madison Burr leads the Esso Cup in points heading into day four, registering eight points (5g, 3a) while Maika Gauthier and Olivia Giguère are the tied point leaders for Laurentides-Lanaudière, each potting two.

Regina Rebels, 1-2-0 (WEST) vs Prince Albert Northern Bears, 0-3-0 (HOST)

Two league rivals go toe to toe on the National stage to wrap up day four.

Like Étoiles, Regina also sits on the verge of elimination and faces the same circumstances as Quebec coming into tonight, a loss will put their tournament lives in jeopardy. The Rebels lone win came against Laurentides-Lanaudière on Sunday afternoon, winning 3-1 to kick off round-robin play. Since then, the Rebels have been winless falling to the Sabres and Rush on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile the Bears have yet to chalk one up in the win column, losing their first three contests. Despite the record, PA have shown that they deserve to be at the Esso Cup with two of their three losses only ending with one goal decisions.

Greta Henderson and Prince Albert’s own Stryker Zablocki each lead Regina in points with four while Kassie Ferster and Sasha Malenfant both have two points for the Bears.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann