The Bluewater Hawks and Oakville Hornets delivered a back-and-forth classic, with the Hawks ultimately prevailing 4-3 in a game defined by special teams and a late power-play winner. The Hornets struck first, capitalizing on an early power play as Rainn Baliat, assisted by Ava Giacomodonato and Lucy Terzievski, found the net midway through the first period. Terzievski then doubled the Oakville lead with just over a minute left in the opening frame, converting a setup from Gianna Vinci and Holly Brimacombe. Despite being outshot 12-5 in the first, the Hornets took a commanding 2-0 lead into the intermission.
The Hawks roared back in the second period, tilting the ice with a 15-8 shot advantage. Leah Carnochan got Bluewater on the board, finishing a play from Maggie Alcock and Marlee Shinner. Just 54 seconds later, Mathilda Moorehouse netted her first of the night, assisted by Charlotte Richardson and Olivia Thompson, to knot the game at 2-2. The third period saw the Hawks take their first lead when Zoé Morin scored early, assisted by Abigayle Van Bakel. The game's turning point came with just over ten minutes to play. On a power play, Mathilda Moorehouse struck again, this time for the game-winning goal, with Olivia Minten and Maggie Alcock picking up the helpers. The Hornets made a desperate push, cutting the deficit to one on a late power-play goal from maya Valeri, assisted by Charline Worron, but the Hawks held firm in the final minutes to secure the victory.
Special teams were decisive, with each team scoring twice on the power play in a penalty-filled contest. The Hawks' resilience was key, battling back from a two-goal deficit, with Mathilda Moorehouse's two-goal performance, including the game-winner, leading the charge. Maggie Alcock was a playmaking force for Bluewater with two assists, while Lucy Terzievski had a goal and an assist for Oakville. In a game where goalie stats were not tracked, the shot totals told the story of momentum swings, with Bluewater's persistent offensive pressure in the final two periods ultimately making the difference in a hard-fought win.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875