2018 Esso Cup

DOYLE SCORES TWICE, SLASH COME BACK TO TOP CANADETTES

JASON LA ROSE

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – Jayme Doyle scored a pair of first-period goals to erase an early two-goal deficit, and the St. Albert Slash scored the final six goals to earn a 6-2 win over the Brampton Canadettes and clinch second place in the prelims Thursday at the 2018 Esso Cup.

Doyle added an assist in the second period to complete a three-point performance, and Madison Willan had a goal and a helper. Jaden Bogden, McKenzie Hewett and Caleigh Meraw also found the scoresheet for the Slash.

It was the Canadettes who jumped into a quick lead, with Brooks Greenwood crashing the net and poking a loose puck under St. Albert goaltender Brianna Sank just 1:52 in.

Chanel Noori made it 2-0 at 6:15, racing down the right wing and finding space upstairs on the short side past Sank, but that would be it for offence from the Ontario champions.

Doyle got the comeback started at 14:03, tapping in a one-touch pass from Willan at the side of the net, and she knocked in an Allison Reich rebound less than three minutes later to tie the game.

Bogden put the Slash ahead for good before the end of the opening frame, sweeping the 3-2 goal past Brampton netminder Hannah Szczepanowski off a scramble in front.

The offensive onslaught continued from the Pacific titlists in the second period, as St. Albert outshot the Canadettes 16-7 and added to its lead with three goals.

Hewett needed just 39 seconds of the middle frame to count shorthanded, racing away and going five-hole on Szczepanowski to make it 4-2.

Willan netted her third goal in two game at 7:18 of the second when her shot hit a Brampton stick and found its way in, and Meraw blasted home a point shot in the final minute to provide the final margin of victory.

Both teams will wait for the conclusion of the preliminary round to find out who and when it will play in the semifinals on Friday.