By Wendy Graves via Hockey Canada

REGINA, Sask. – In a back-and-forth game, it was Dara Greig’s (Lethbridge, Alta./Pursuit of Excellence, CSSHL) goal with 8:08 left in the third period that proved to be the game-winner for Alberta, as the team secured fifth place at the 2016 National Women’s Under-18 Championship with a 6-4 win over Saskatchewan.

Chloe Puddifant (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) fed Greig out front for a one-timer.

Courtney Kollman (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) added an empty-netter to provide some late insurance. It was her second goal of the game.

Puddifant, Taylor Sawka (Cochrane, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) and Tyra Meropoulis (Edson, Alta./St. Albert, ABMAAA) also scored in the win.

Nara Elia (Saskatoon, Sask./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL) scored a hat trick for Saskatchewan. Hannah Korroll (Saskatoon, Sask./Prince Albert, SFMAAAHL) had the fourth goal.

In a rematch of last year’s seventh-place game – won by Saskatchewan – the teams exchanged goals less than a minute apart early in the first.

At 3:41, Puddifant’s attempted centering pass appeared to go off a defender and in.

Forty-one seconds later Jordyn Holmes (Saskatoon, Sask./Saskatoon, SFMAAAHL) banked a pass off the boards to Elia, who drove down the wing and tied the game.

A late goal from Kollman – scored from near the crease with five seconds left on the clock – sent Alberta to the dressing room up 2-1 at the first intermission.

It built on that momentum early in the second. Only 1:50 in, Greig fought off a defender up high to set up Sawka down low.

An extended five-on-three a few minutes later allowed Saskatchewan to get a goal back. Sophie Shirley (Saskatoon, Sask./Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL) won a face-off to herself, then passed cross-ice to Elia for a one-timer.

Meropoulis restored Alberta’s two-goal lead before the period was half over, with a power play marker scored from the right circle.

Saskatchewan tied the game early in the third with a pair of goals 15 seconds apart. Elia spun and, on her backhand, tucked a loose puck into the corner of the net. Koroll’s point shot then cleanly beat goaltender Camryn Drever (Edmonton, Alta./St. Albert, ABMAAA).

Drever made 33 saves for Alberta, and Jordan Ivanco (Saskatoon, Sask./Saskatoon, SFMAAAHL) 27 for Saskatchewan.