By Hockey Canada

KITCHENER, Ont. – For the second game in a row, Ontario Red scored twice in the opening minutes and rode strong goaltending to a win, this time getting 21 saves from Genny Ladiges in a 5-0 win over Saskatchewan on Thursday afternoon at the National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Player of the Game Alley Bero scored twice and Catherine White, Brianne Jenner and Carolyne Prevost also dented the twine for Ontario Red (2-0), who ran their winning streak at the U18 Women’s Nationals to 16 games, and recorded their eighth shutout in nine games.

The Ontarians clicked in every situation against Saskatchewan, scoring at 5-on-5, on the powerplay and shorthanded. The win clinches a semi-final berth for the three-time defending national champions, and they can lock up top spot in Group A with a win over Manitoba on Friday night (7:00 p.m. ET).

Rianne Wight picked up Player of the Game honours for Saskatchewan (1-1) who, despite the loss, can still clinch a spot in Saturday’s semi-finals, a road that begins with Friday’s match-up with Alberta (10:00 a.m.).