The Stoney Creek Sabres are the 2023 Esso Cup Champions. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

By Logan Lehmann

The Perfect Tournament

WATCH: Stoney Creek Sabres win 2023 Esso Cup after third period comeback

Apr 29, 2023 | 8:51 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, SK – After going undefeated at this year’s tournament, the Stoney Creek Sabres have won the 2023 Esso Cup.

The Ontario representatives erased a two-goal deficit in a back-and-forth third period to capture their program’s first national title, 5-4 against the Pacific’s Fraser Valley Rush.

Stoney Creek head coach Taylor Abbott shared what he said to his team in the second intermission after going into the third down two.

“I just told the girls, ‘let’s have fun this third period no matter what happens,’” he said. “I said ‘if we get one, then they might start getting on their heels and we might get going,’ so the girls came out and they executed.”

Sabres head coach Taylor Abbott gets a shower from his players moments after winning the Esso Cup. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

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Tournament MVP Madison Burr had the game-winner with less than 90 seconds to play in the third period, where she took paNOW through her perspective of her gold-clinching marker.

“I just knew it was a tie game and there was not much time left and I saw Caileigh Tiller put that puck up and I saw the puck and I was like, might as well take it up the ice and see what happens,” she said. “I angled (the defensemen) and just put it on the net.”

“I’m so glad it ended up like this,” she continued. “I wanted it to be a close game, it makes it so much more exciting and I just can’t believe it even happened.”

Burr finished the game with a team-high two goals and one assist and finished as the tournament leader in points with 15 (8g, 7a).

Madison Burr (right) led the 2023 Esso Cup tournament in points with 15. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

Along with Burr, Peyton Anzivino, Ashlyn Carter, and Maren Capannelli also found the back of the net, while Caileigh Tiller led in assists with two, and Darragh Browne, Chelsea Tiller, and Rylie Griffiths each had one.

Aynsley D’Ottavio and Leah Barnard both had a goal and an assist in the game for Fraser Valley, while Jade Lore and Hannah Dods also lit the lamp. Solana Cooper had a pair of assists,while Vienna Rubin and Katherine Leroux added helpers.

Tara Bach and Mya Castrillo combined for 24 saves for the Sabres, while Rebecca Noble turned aside 20 for the Rush.

WATCH: The Stoney Creek Sabres win the 2023 Esso Cup in Prince Albert. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

The Rush were the first to get on the board and they wasted no time doing so, scoring just over three minutes into the period. Cooper connected with Barnard to open the scoring and to get the Pacific reps on the board.

Fast-forward midway into the second and the game was tied. Browne led the odd-man rush for the Sabres and fed a cross-ice pass to Capannelli, who tapped it home to tie it up

The Rush reclaimed the lead later in the frame off a Leroux shot. Her shot was stopped by Bach and the puck came back out right in front for Lore, who found a hole to put Fraser Valley back out in front.

A short time later and the Blue and Gold struck again on a similar play. Rubin’s shot was stopped, but the rebound came right back out to D’Ottavio, who put it into the empty cage and doubled the Rush’s lead. The goal ended Bach’s night as she was subbed out for Castrillo for the third period

Stoney Creek caught the Rush on their heels to start the final frame, leading to a Sabres goal. Pressure in the offensive zone led to Tiller getting the puck and connecting with Carter in tight to cut the deficit to one.

The Green and Gold kept rolling and managed to tie it midway through the period. Burr collected the puck at centre ice and walked through the Rush defense, before pulling off the toe drag and snipping it wide side to tie the game back up at three

A short time after, the Sabras took the lead. A series of shots by Stoney Creek were stopped in front, before Anzivino managed to squeak one through the five hole of Noble making it 4-3.

But, the Rush weren’t going to go down without a fight. Less than a minute later Barnard picked the pocket of a Sabres player and broke into the Stoney Creek and on a two-on-one. Barnard played give-and-go with Dods before going wide to knot the game at four.

However, the dream of National Gold for the Rush came crashing down. With under 90 seconds to play, Burr split the defense for a breakaway and scored an incredible game-winning goal to give the Sabres their first Esso Cup title.

For Fraser Valley, this is their second consecutive silver medal at the tournament after falling 4-1 in 2022.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann