Shannon Coulter
The Lloydminster Steelers have been counting down to the 2025 Esso Cup all season, and now the hosts are ready to use home ice to their advantage.
The Steelers finished in the top half of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL), ending the regular season with a 17-10-1 record.
Strong defence and goaltending have been crucial for the Steelers. Lloydminster allowed only 48 goals, the second-best goals-against mark in the AFHL behind the juggernaut Edmonton Jr. Oilers. In net, the Steelers have a dynamic duo in Grace Deveau and rookie Harlee Houle. Deveau sported a 1.13 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage, while Houle registered a 1.87 goals-against average and .926 save percentage during the regular season.
This will be Lloydminster’s first appearance at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, but the hosts are already familiar with one opponent: the Jr. Oilers. Edmonton lost just one AFHL game this season, and it came at the hands of the Steelers—a 2-1 overtime decision on Jan. 26.
Historically, the Esso Cup hosts have never won the tournament, but the Steelers are hoping to change that. Two host teams have previously reached the gold medal game—the Red Deer Chiefs (2015) and Sudbury Lady Wolves (2019).
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Alberta Female Hockey League Quarterfinal: lost to Calgary Fire Red 2-0 (2-3, 1-2)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 17-10-1 (4th in AFHL) Goals for: 61 (4th in AFHL) Goals against: 48 (2nd in AFHL) Longest winning streak: 5 (Nov. 22-Dec. 20)
Top 3 scorers: - Raevyn Neahr – 10G 11A 21P (12th in AFHL) - Skylar Heinrichs – 10G 10A 20P (15th in AFHL) - Taryn Leighton – 6G 8A 14P (36th in AFHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 0-2 Goals for: 3 Goals against: 5
Top 3 scorers: - Ashlyn Hinton – 2G 0A 2P - Sydney Klebanosky – 0G 2A 2P - Raevyn Neahr – 0G 2A 2P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Grace Deveau – Trinity Western University Skylar Heinrichs - Mount Royal University Ashlyn Hinton – Lakeland College Kennedy McQuade - St. Thomas University Ryann Rekimowich – Lakeland College Natalie Tychkowsky – Red Deer Polytechnic