OUA All-Stars defeat Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team 5-4 in shootout

(Photo: Ed Nehring)

Jessica Fickle (Brock Badgers/Fort Erie, Ont.) scored in the final shootout and Nicole Kesteris (Toronto Varsity Blues/Aurora, Ont.) turned aside every shooter she faced as the OUA All-Stars defeated Team Canada 5-4 on Sunday in the second of two games at Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team selection camp.

Two shootouts, after the first period and overtime, proved to be the difference in the game as the OUA All-Stars were able to convert on three of five opportunities while the Canadians scored just once.

Ryleigh Houston's unassisted goal, her third goal in two games, gave Canada an early 1-0 lead which would hold until the end of the first period.  However, a shootout prior to the intermission gave the OUA All-Stars an opportunity to even the score.  

Fickle and Laura Brooker (Laurier Golden Hawks/Fergus, Ont.) converted on both of their chances to give the OUA All-Stars a 2-1 lead before Valérie Audet answered for the Canadians and evened the score at 2-2 as the teams headed for the locker rooms.

The OUA All-Stars outshot Team Canada 11-9 in the first period.

The tie wouldn't last long as Elizabeth Giguère scored just 4:46 into the second period to once again restore the lead for Team Canada.

Despite 18 shots by the OUA All-Stars through the first two periods, they were unable to solve the Canadian goalie tandem of Kristen Campbell and Carly Jackson and entered the third trailing by a goal.

But at 7:26 of the third, the OUA All-Stars would catch a break as Katelyn Gosling's (Western Mustangs/London, Ont.) point shot deflected off a Canadian defender in front of the net and snuck past Jackson tying the game 3-3.

The Canadians would answer at 13:56 of the third, as Micah Hart went five-hole on Kesteris to once again give Team Canada the lead.

However, just three minutes later, Taryn Pilon (Queen's Gaels/Peterborough, Ont.) scored for OUA to tie the game and eventually send it to overtime.  Pilon is currently second in OUA in with 17 points in 14 games.

The extra five minutes of OT solved nothing and a shootout was required to determine a winner.

After turning aside the first two Team Canada shooters, Kesteris shut the door on Kristin O'Neill, setting the stage for Fickle.  Having converted earlier in the game, Fickle was called on yet again, beating Jackson and completing the OUA All-Stars dramatic 5-4 comeback.

With the win, the OUA All-Stars split their weekend exhibition series with Team Canada.  On Friday night, Ryleigh Houston scored twice for Canada and Marlène Boissonnault turned aside all 14 shots against as the Canadians blanked the OUA All-Stars 2-0.

Following the selection camp, 23 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship, Jan. 5-12 in Buffalo, N.Y.

The OUA All-Stars will now enjoy some much deserved down time over the holidays before the regular season resumes on January 8th when the UOIT Ridgebacks take on the Ryerson Rams.

With files from Morgan Bell/Hockey Canada