LLOYDMINSTER -- The Saskatoon Stars will be going for gold on Saturday afternoon.
The Stars advanced to the championship final at the Esso Cup female U18 AAA national hockey championship on Friday, thanks to a 3-2 victory in their semifinal contest with the Ontario champion North York Storm.
As a result, Saskatoon will be taking the ice with the chance to emerge as the best in Canada when they face either the host Lloydminster Steelers or Pacific champion Edmonton Jr. Oilers at 5 p.m. Saturday in Lloydminster.
The win over North York was especially impressive in that Saskatoon trailed heading into the third period but found a pair of goals to secure the victory.
It was a good start for Saskatoon, as Mikayla Broadfoot took advantage of the Stars’ first power play of the game to score the lone goal of the first period with 4:53 remaining.
North York came back with a vengeance to start the second, and before the seven minute mark the Storm had taken the lead.
Lily Paisley tied the the game 3:09 into the frame and Demi Lazarou gave North York the lead only 3:10 later.
That’s where things would stand heading into the third, where Saskatoon would find a way to get things done.
Sadie Green scored her fifth goal and ninth point of the tournament 3:18 into the period to tie the game up at a pair apiece, and there things would remain until the final six minutes of the game.
There, Broadfoot would score her second of the game and fourth of the tournament with 5:24 remaining in regulation, and that marker would stand as the game-winner.
Tarynn Sutter turned aside 22 shots to earn the win in net, while Ryleigh Maxwell had 18 saves for North York.
Lloydminster and Edmonton were set to play in the other semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday, with Saskatoon having lost to both teams in the round robin -- but by the closest of margins each time.
Edmonton took a 4-3 shootout victory back on Tuesday afternoon, and Lloydminster defeated the Stars 4-3 in overtime in their meeting on Wednesday evening.
The loser of the semifinal will play North York for bronze at 11 a.m.
The gold medal game will be broadcast on TSN+, with their coverage starting just before puck drop at 5 p.m.
You can watch the game for a fee on HNLive, or follow along at www.hockeycanada.ca.
