By Shannon Coulter via Hockey Canada

Bronze medallists a year ago in Prince Albert, the Regina Rebels are returning to the Esso Cup hungry to become champions.

After consistently finishing at or near the top of the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) since 2018-19, this will be Regina’s fourth appearance at the Women’s U18 National Club Championship in tournament history. Only dropping three games during the regular season, the Rebels are undefeated since Nov. 24, riding a 26-game win streak into Vernon.

The Rebels are loaded with young talent for the second year in the row. There are eight first-year players on the roster: five forwards, one defender and one goaltender. The 2022-23 edition of the Rebels had nine first-years, and 12 are returning from last year’s Esso Cup.

Regina is an offensively strong team, led by National Women’s Under-18 Team forward Stryker Zablocki. After recording two goals and five assists in her U18 Women’s Worlds debut, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, native finished as the SFU18AAAHL scoring leader. Zablocki had 40 goals and 25 assists in the regular season, then added 11 goals and six helpers during the playoffs.

However, the offence is not limited to Zablocki. Berlin Lolacher (15-25—40) and Brooklyn Nimegeers (10-30—40) finished in the top five of league scoring, joined by Avery Gottselig, Addison Greve, Kadence Dansereau and Ashley Breitkreuz in the top 20.

Between the pipes, the Rebels have the best goaltending duo in Saskatchewan. Returning netminder Hannah Tresek topped the SFU18AAAHL with a 17-1 record, 1.43 goals-against average and .940 save percentage, while rookie Adriana Bashnick finished third with a 10-2 record, 1.84 GAA and .915 save percentage.

HOW THEY GOT TO VERNON

Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League
Semifinal: defeated Battlefords Sharks 2-0 (5-4, 5-4)
Final: defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2-0 (7-3, 4-1)

West Regional
Championship: defeated Winnipeg Ice 2-0 (4-3 OT, 3-1)

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-OTW-OTL-L): 26-1-0-3 (1st in SFU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 151 (1st in SFU18AAAHL)
Goals against: 50 (1st in SFU18AAAHL)
Longest winning streak: 20 (Nov. 24-March 4)

Top 3 scorers:
- Stryker Zablocki – 40G 25A 65P (1st in SFU18AAAHL)
- Berlin Lolacher – 15G 25A 40P (4th in SFU18AAAHL)
- Brooklyn Nimegeers – 10G 30A 40P (5th in SFU18AAAHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 6-0
Goals for: 28
Goals against: 16

Top 3 scorers:
- Stryker Zablocki – 11G 6A 17P
- Berlin Lolacher – 4G 5A 9P
- Brooklyn Nimegeers – 1G 4A 5P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

2023 – Regina Rebels | bronze medal | 3-2 | 21GF 16GA
2013 – Regina Rebels | 4th place | 3-2 | 17GF 11GA
2010 – Regina Rebels | 4th place | 3-2 | 12GF 10GA

UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS

Ashley Breitkreuz – Trinity Western University
Avery Gottselig – University of Saskatchewan
Emily Karpan – Trinity Western University
Berlin Lolacher – Mercyhurst University
Brooklyn Nimegeers – Princeton University
Stryker Zablocki – Northeastern University