The Nepean Wildcats set the tone early and rode a potent power play to a decisive 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in U22 Elite action. From the opening puck drop, the Wildcats asserted their dominance, outshooting the Senators 13-5 in the first period. Maggie Hughson, wearing number 24, opened the scoring at even strength midway through the frame, finishing a play set up by Sydney Semiga and Isabella Donaldson. The pressure continued, and with just 58 seconds left in the period, Jaylee MacKinnon capitalized on a power play chance to give Nepean a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.
The second period saw the game's momentum swing wildly, fueled by a parade of penalties. The Senators fought back, with Lexie Hatoum scoring on the power play early in the period to cut the deficit in half. Then, while shorthanded, Chloë Martineau found the net with an assist from Ella Fridgen to shock the Wildcats and tie the game at 2-2. However, Nepean's special teams proved to be the difference-maker. Sydney Semiga, the Wildcats' number 18, answered with two crucial power-play goals. Her first, assisted again by Mallea McMullin and Jaylee MacKinnon, restored the lead. Her second, which stood as the game-winner, came late in the period with helpers from Breanna Bray and McMullin, who tallied her third assist of the night.
Any hope of an Ottawa comeback was extinguished in the third period as the Wildcats tightened their defensive grip, limiting the Senators to just four shots. Alessia Longo put the final nail in the coffin with another power-play marker, assisted by Avery Jones and Jordan Mulvihill. While the goalie statistics were not tracked, the shot totals tell the story of Nepean's control, culminating in a 40-21 advantage. The Wildcats' special teams were the ultimate decider, going 4-for-8 on the power play, while their penalty kill, aside from the one shorthanded lapse, held firm. Sydney Semiga's two-goal, three-point performance led the offensive charge, cementing a commanding win for the home side.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875