Regina Rebels take home gold in 2024 Esso Cup

The Regina Rebels are Esso Cup champions for the first time in the team’s history after a 2-1 win in Saturday’s matchup.

It was a close matchup, but all it took was a strong defence to propel the Rebels past Ontario’s North York Storm to win gold at this year’s Esso Cup national women’s U18 championship.

 After a back and forth in the first, Regina’s Berlin Lolacher opened up scoring in the second period, putting the Rebels in the lead 1-0.

Regina’s Stryker Zablocki quickly pushed the rebels farther in the lead with a second goal. 

“I wouldn’t do [this] with any other group of girls.”

Stryker Zablocki, @ReginaRebels @hockeysask | #EssoCup pic.twitter.com/k0KrYF6agB

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) April 28, 2024

Late in the third, the Storm’s Lily Paisley scored the team’s first goal in a powerplay, leaving the matchup at 2-1. 

The Rebels held on to their lead as the clock ticked down, finishing the matchup with a Saskatchewan victory.

The Rebels won bronze last year and returned for gold, the team’s first since the event began in 2009.

The last time a Saskatchewan team won gold at the Esso Cup was in 2014 when the Weyburn Golden Wings beat the Edmonton Thunder.