The East Ottawa Stars and Ottawa 67s delivered a tense, physical battle that required overtime to decide, with the Stars emerging victorious 2-1. The game was defined by strong goaltending and a parade to the penalty box, particularly in a chippy third period. The Stars struck first in the opening frame when Sophie Orlicky found the back of the net, assisted by Kessa Hogue, giving the visitors an early lead they would carry into the first intermission. The 67s responded in the second period, with Jane Synott converting a setup from Ella Robertson and Norah Nyaba to knot the score at 1-1. The middle period saw the physicality ramp up, with penalties for Body Checking and Head Contact setting the stage for a contentious finish.
The third period was a story of survival on special teams, as the game devolved into a series of head contact infractions. A massive scrum at the 19:11 mark resulted in a slew of minors, with Stars players Cayleigh Bowes and Macyn Driver, and 67s player Ella Robertson, all sent off for Head Contact. The parade continued with more calls against Kessa Hogue and Cayleigh Bowes for the Stars, and Avery Ronberg for the 67s. Despite a combined 37 shots through regulation, the goalies stood tall. Ottawa's Livia Debnarova turned aside 25 of 27 shots in a valiant effort, while the Stars' Anna Rioux made 10 saves on 26 shots to keep her team in it, forcing a decisive overtime.
Just over two minutes into the extra frame, the Stars found the winner. Annie McDonell became the hero, potting the game-winning goal with assists from Béatrice Gauvin and Molly Cote, sending the East Ottawa Stars home with a hard-fought victory. The win was a testament to their resilience in a penalty-filled contest, while the 67s were left to rue missed opportunities despite a strong defensive effort led by their goalie.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875