The Thompson-Okanagan Lakers clinched their spot in the semi finals with a 2-1 shootout win over L'Intrépide de l'Outaouais (QUE) on Thursday at Kal Tire Place. (Hockey Canada photo)

By Pete McIntyre

National championship

Final four set at Esso Cup, host team makes it

Apr 26, 2024 | 5:30 AM

The Thompson-Okanagan Lakers will play in the semi-finals Friday at the Esso Cup in Vernon, but their head coach admits they were fortunate to get there.

The host team finished third after the five game preliminary round at the Canadian women’s under 18 club hockey championship after a 2-1 shootout win over L’Intrépide de l’Outaouais of Quebec on Thursday night at Kal Tire Place.

Emma Kohl of Fruitvale scored the tying goal with just under five minutes to go in regulation to help the Lakers earn a single point and a trip to the semi-final. Amy Polvere of Penticton scored the shootout winner.

“We were fortunate tonight,” Lakers coach Ed Patterson of Vernon, said on squeaking into the playoffs.

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“We got every bounce possible tonight. I think they hit five posts and missed some empty netters… Quebec deserved a better fate tonight. We got the bounce that matters but it wasn’t pretty.”

Patterson added despite the win, his team is frustrated with themselves.

“We have had three below-average games here in a row and we sure as heck better give Regina a better fight than we did in the preliminary round.”

The third-seeded Lakers will play the #2 Regina Rebels in the late semi final at 7 p.m. Friday while the # 1 Edmonton Junior Oilers will take on the #4 North York Storm from Ontario at 3 p.m.

Here are the results from Thursday, April 25:

Edmonton Jr. Oilers 4, North York Storm 1

• Claire Carruthers (Crossfield, AB) scored twice as the Jr. Oilers clinched first place in the standings.
• Ella Lloyd (Ardrossan, AB) and Daniella Martorana (Edmonton, AB) each had two-point nights.
• Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe (Red Deer, AB) made 24 saves.

Regina Rebels 4, Northern Selects 3

• Berlin Lolacher (Pilot Butte, SK) scored twice for the Rebels.
• Brooklyn Nimegeers (Moose Jaw, SK) collected a pair of assists.
• Selects netminder Jorja Burrows (New Glasgow, NS) set an Esso Cup record with 73 saves, breaking the previous record of 57 set by Maggie Johnston (Mid-Isle) in 2017.

Thompson-Okanagan Lakers 2, Intrépide de l’Outaouais 1 (SO)

• Emma Kohl (Fruitvale, BC) scored the tying goal with just under five minutes to go in regulation to help the Lakers earn a single point and a trip to the semifinal.
• Amy Polvere (Penticton, BC) scored the shootout winner.
• Reese Sliskovic (Kelowna, BC) made 51 saves to earn player of the game honours.

Next Games (Friday, April 26):

Semifinal #1 – Edmonton Jr. Oilers vs. North York Storm – 3 p.m. PT

Semifinal #2 – Regina Rebels vs. Thompson-Okanagan Lakers – 7 p.m. PT