The Durham West Lightning struck first on home ice, with Uma Peterson finding the back of the net just under four minutes into the opening period. Assisted by Peyton Fleming, Peterson’s early goal gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead and set the tone for a tightly contested battle. The Barrie Sharks, however, responded with urgency. Less than a minute later, Madeline McKay answered for the visitors, converting passes from Piper Sebben and Samantha Larmand to knot the game at 1-1 before the first intermission. The opening frame was a dead heat in every sense, with both teams firing 10 shots apiece, foreshadowing the defensive struggle to come.
The middle period saw the game’s physical intensity ramp up, with three minor penalties called. Durham West’s Madison Bryk was sent off for head contact, while Renee Lapointe took a body checking penalty. Barrie’s Malee Winter was also called for hooking. Despite the power play opportunities, neither side could break the deadlock, thanks in large part to stellar goaltending at both ends. Barrie’s Avah Sedore and Durham West’s Amelia Wilkinson turned away every shot they faced in the second, with the Lightning holding a slight 9-7 edge in shots for the period.
The third period continued the tense, back-and-forth affair. Both teams had chances, with Durham West applying heavy pressure and outshooting Barrie 12-8, but Sedore and Wilkinson remained impenetrable. Penalties to Durham West’s Aurora Matt and Soren Biderman, along with one to Barrie’s Kathleen Dion in the final seconds, did little to alter the score. The game required overtime to find a winner, and it was Barrie’s Ella Sabourin who emerged as the hero. Just over two minutes into the extra frame, Sabourin potted the game-winner, assisted by Sadie Frantz, to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory for the Sharks. Avah Sedore was brilliant in the Barrie net, stopping 31 of 32 shots for the win, while Amelia Wilkinson made 26 saves in a valiant losing effort for the Lightning.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875