'Super special': Regina Rebels book ticket to Esso Cup in back to back seasons
The U18 AAA Regina Rebels will compete for the national title for a second consecutive year after they defeated the Winnipeg Ice AAA at Western Regionals last week.
It was déjà vu for the Rebels facing off against the Ice as that was the team they defeated last year to earn their place at the coveted Esso Cup tournament.
“I think it’s kind of cool. I don’t think it happens very often where two teams get to go up against each other twice,” said captain, Avery Gottselig.
“It’s definitely super special especially to do it a second year in a row. So I’m looking forward to seeing how our team does because I think we have a lot of potential,” added alternate captain, Brooklyn Nimegeers.
Last year, the national championship was held in Saskatchewan as the Prince Albert Northway Northern Bears were the host team. That meant two teams from the province had the opportunity to compete for the national title.
The Rebels ultimately finished third after losing in the semi-final for a shot at the title game. They are using that as motivation heading into this year’s championship.
“It definitely motivates us to finish in first place this year. Especially at Esso, all the games were close and we had a chance last year. I think this team is super strong so we definitely have a chance this year,” said Nimegeers.
“I think definitely awesome having that experience just kind of knowing what it takes to go all the way. There’s I think about five or six of us that were on the team last year so I think just having that leadership and that experience from all of our older players just helped lead the younger ones through regionals and hopefully on our way to the Esso title,” Gottselig added.
Nimegeers agreed the experience and leadership from the veterans on the team will play a key role this year.
“We’ll have experience with it, especially us older girls. So we’ll be able to lead the rest of the team and lead the rookies through the way. I think we have an advantage going in with the experience of last year,” she said.
The team is also excited about the opportunity to leave the province this time around to represent as the Esso Cup is taking place in Vernon, B.C. this year.
“It’ll be good to somewhere new and I don’t think a lot of girls have ever even been to B.C. So it’ll be cool to go to Vernon,” said forward, Stryker Zablocki.
Zablocki has been an absolute powerhouse not just for the Rebels but amongst the Saskatchewan U18 AAA league. In just 27 games played in the regular season, she led the league with 65 points. (40 goals, 25 assists). The next closest player recorded 48 points in 30 games. Zablocki went on to lead the playoff race as well with seven goals, six assists for 13 points in just four games.
The 2024 Esso Cup will feature the five regional champion teams from across the country playing the host Thompson-Okanagan Lakers. The national championship tournament runs from April 21-27.
The final will be broadcast on TSN.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III will return to public duties on Tuesday when he visits a cancer treatment charity, beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
A group of Toronto tenants have been on a rent strike for a year and say there's no resolution in sight
Dozens of tenants in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park area have now been withholding their rent for one year, and it’s unclear when the dispute will end.
U.K. police arrest man wielding a sword in east London, 5 people are taken to the hospital
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and two police officers on Tuesday in the east London community of Hainault before being arrested, police said.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.