In a game defined by special teams and physical play, the North York Storm escaped with a narrow 4-3 victory over the Ottawa 67s in U22 Elite action. The tone was set early with a parade to the penalty box, and it was Ottawa who capitalized first. On a power play after a head contact call, Vanessa Sciampacone, assisted by Anna Rossner and Polly Almstedt, gave the 67s the lead midway through the first. The Storm answered back quickly, however, as Emily Wallace, with the helper going to Laryssa Mayer, netted a power-play goal of her own just minutes later to knot the score at 1-1 after a penalty-filled opening frame.
The second period saw the offenses open up. Ottawa's Avery Ronberg restored the lead with an even-strength marker, assisted by Maude McCarthy. But the Storm's power play, a persistent threat all night, struck again. This time it was Breazzlyn Taylor converting, with Makayla Dunn and Emily Wallace picking up assists, to tie the game at 2-2. Ottawa responded with a strong push, and Claire Wightman found the back of the net, with helpers from Polly Almstedt and Avery Ronberg, to send the 67s into the final intermission with a 3-2 lead.
The third period belonged entirely to the North York Storm. They seized momentum early, with Amber Nazir scoring an unassisted even-strength goal just 31 seconds into the period to tie the game at 3-3. The Storm kept the pressure on, and with Ottawa's Avery Ronberg in the box for head contact, they made them pay. Reese Halliday delivered the decisive blow on the power play, assisted by Olivia Lehti and Amber Nazir, to put North York ahead 4-3. Despite pulling goalie Ava Lund-Fouquette late, Ottawa could not find the equalizer against Storm netminder Kaitlyn Earl, who earned the win. The game ended with a flurry of late penalties, capping off a chippy, hard-fought contest where the Storm's lethal power play, scoring three times, proved to be the ultimate difference-maker.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875