The U18 AA Stoney Creek Sabres are coming off an incredible season becoming both OWHA Provincial Champions and Esso Cup Champions.
In their first game of the Esso Cup Championships, the Sabers took on Fraser Valley Rush. Stoney Creek scored an early lead and held on to defeat the Rush 5-2.
In their second game the Sabers got on the board first, but the Regina Rebels responded in the third period tying it at 1-1. Stoney Creek answered quickly with 3 more goals, giving them a 4-1 victory.
In their third game of the tournament, Stoney Creek came out on top with a win of 4-1 against the Northern Selects of the Atlantic Division.
During their fourth game, the Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière matched the Sabres initial goal in the first period tying up the game 1-1. However, Stoney Creek quickly responded, taking the lead 2-1 to win their 4th game of the tournament.
The Sabres then dominated the Home Team, the Prince Albert Bears, in a 6-1 victory in their fifth game.
This win secured them a spot in the Semi Finals and a chance to revisit the Northern Selects where Sabres goalie Tara Bach earned a shutout. The 3-0 victory positioned Stoney Creek to play Fraser Valley Rush in the Gold Medal game.
The final game was a very fast back and forth between both teams, each team fighting until the very end. With the score tied 4-4 with 1:20 left in the third period, Madison Burr of Stoney Creek scored the game-winning goal to beat Fraser Valley and win the 2023 Esso Cup.
Stoney Creek had a total of 39 goals for and 10 against for the tournament. The team was led by Madison Burr in both goals (8) and assists (7), and strong goaltending by Tara Bach and Mya Castrillo.