Two goals from Prince Albert’s Stryker Zablocki weren’t enough as Canada’s national women’s U18 squad fell 4-3 to the United States in a shoot-out on Saturday.
Zablocki notched a power-play goal in the first period, followed by a second goal with 58 seconds left in the game to send the two teams to overtime. The United States prevailed in a seven-round shootout for the win.
Despite the loss, Zablocki said the team showed plenty of grit in coming back.
“We were relentless tonight,” she said in a press release. “We did not shut down. Even when it was 3-2, we came back and got that goal at the end to keep us alive.”
Sade Sandilands scored Canada’s other goal, while Megan Healy, Sydney Stoughton, and Annabelle Lovell tallied for the Americans. Canada led 2-0 after the first period, but he U.S. stormed back with three second period goals to take the lead.
The two teams played an even third period before Zablocki’s last minute goal forced overtime.
“There was a little scrum at the end and I think we all touched the puck and tried to whack it in,” Zablocki said. “It needed to happen, so it was awesome to see the puck go in the net.”
Zablocki was one of six Canadian skaters chosen for the shootout. Team Canada’s Maddie McCullough and Chloe Primerano both scored in the opening round, while Jane Daley and Margaret Averill scored for the Americans.
The two teams were tied at two after the first five shooters, setting up a sudden death shoot-out.
In the seventh round, American goaltender Morgan Stickney stopped Primerano, who was shooting for the second time. Adrianna Milani also shot a second time for the Americans. After failing to score in the opening round, she beat Canadian netminder Alyssa Barrette in round seven to secure the win.
The game was the last one in a three-game series between the Canadian and American women’s U18 development teams. Canada took the first two games 4-2 and 3-1. All games were played in Thorold, Ont.
Zablocki said the series was a great experience.
“Our team has grown so much,” she said. “We have got much closer over the past week, and we have all gotten much better together. It is going to be awesome moving forward now because we are all so close after this series.”
