CALGARY, AB – Team Ontario Red defeated Team Quebec to take home the gold medal at the 2005 Women’s Under-18 Hockey Challenge in Salmon Arm, BC on Sunday afternoon. In front of a standing room only crowd of 2 172, Ontario capped off the tournament with a 5-0 win over Quebec to remain undefeated throughout the tournament.
Team Ontario Red dedicated the gold medal game of the Under-18 Women’s Hockey Challenge to the members and families of the Windsor Wildcat Intermediate "BB" team, who were involved in a tragic bus accident in upstate New York on Saturday afternoon.
Meghan Agosta, the tournament’s top scorer with 12 points, led the way for Ontario with two goals and an assist while Morgan Marziali, Alison Domenico and Britney Selina also scored for Ontario. Goaltender Christina Kessler was named Ontario’s player of the game after recording her second shutout of the tournament stopping all 36 shots she faced.
Team Ontario Red dominated their opponents throughout the tournament posting a perfect 5-0-0 record and outscoring their opponents 31-2. Team Quebec’s loss was their first defeat of the tournament and finished with a 3-1-1 record.
In other action Sunday, Team BC shutout Team Alberta 4-0 to win the bronze medal despite being outshot 36-23. The story of the game was the play of BC with the man advantage as they converted on 3 of 4 power play opportunities while Alberta could not convert despite having 8 power plays. Melissa Anderson scored her 5th and tournament leading 6th goal to pace BC and goaltender Ashley Mayr, BC’s player of the game, was perfect in net stopping all 36 shots.
The Women’s Under-18 Hockey Challenge is Canada’s first stage of the Female Program of Excellence. Many of these players will have the opportunity to go on and play for Canada’s National Under-22 team, and the Senior Women’s National Team that competes in events such as the World Women’s Championship and the Winter Olympics.