The Ottawa 67s seized control early and never looked back, securing a decisive 4-1 road win over the Windsor Southwest Wildcats in U22 Elite action. The game's tone was set in the first period when Ottawa capitalized on a power play opportunity. Just over two minutes after Windsor's Emma Holm was sent off for tripping, Ottawa's Sophia Contant, assisted by Ciena Tagapulot and Vanessa Sciampacone, found the back of the net at the 15:57 mark to open the scoring. The Wildcats responded quickly, however, as Tristan Larocque, with helpers from Lea Giroux and Taylor Wilkins, netted an even-strength goal just 35 seconds after an Ottawa penalty expired, knotting the game at 1-1.
The second period belonged entirely to the visitors. Ottawa's Jane Synott broke the deadlock with an even-strength goal, assisted by Norah Nyaba, which would stand as the game-winner. They extended their lead just before the period ended, with Polly Almstedt scoring off a feed from Anna Rossner with only 19 seconds left on the clock, giving the 67s a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the final frame. The Wildcats struggled to generate a comeback against a stifling Ottawa defense and the stellar goaltending of Ava Lund-Fouquette, who turned away all 20 shots she faced for a shutout performance. Ottawa sealed the deal in the third when Maude McCarthy, assisted by Paetyn Stansell and Avery Ronberg, fired the puck into an empty net at 4:07 to cement the 4-1 final score.
The game was a showcase of Ottawa's disciplined play and offensive depth, with five different players recording goals. For Windsor, goalie Shannon Henshaw was under constant pressure, making an impressive 29 saves on 32 shots, but her team's offense couldn't solve Lund-Fouquette at the other end. Penalties were a factor, with Ottawa's Avery Ronberg taking a double-minor for head contact late in the third, but by then the outcome was well in hand. The 67s' comprehensive team effort proved too much for the Wildcats to handle on this night.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875