Sportop Queens tabbed 8th in national U-17 rankings, News (Thunder Bay Women's Hockey Association)

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Some stellar play by the Thunder Bay Sportop midget AA Queens this season has seen them garner national attention.

Thunder Bay was slotted eighth in the country in the latest My Hockey national rankings in the girls’ under-17 bracket.

It marked the first time this season the midget AA’s were slotted in the national Top 10.

The move up the rankings came as a result of the club’s success at the first round of the 2 Nations College Prep Series in Detroit last month that saw them go 4-1 overall in five games.

The Sportop Queens were also victorious on home ice this weekend as they captured the championship of the Caribou Coach Classic at Fort William First Nation Arena, including a 3-1 victory over the host Confederation College Thunderhawks 3-1 in the title game.

Amanda Pages tallied twice for the midget AA’s while Molly Kunnas supplied the game-winner.

Lucy Newman dished out two assists in the triumph with Hannah Armstrong and Zoe Hynnes also picking up helpers.

Darcy Mann scored for the Thunderhawks.

Josée Robinson picked up the win for the Queens, who advanced to the title game following a narrow 1-0 semifinal victory over the Manitoba Blizzard.

In the match-up with the Blizzard, Aden Johnson posted the shutout in the victory.

The lone tally of the contest came in the second period courtesy of Hynnes.

Con College earned their way with the final after upending the previously unbeaten Topper’s Pizza midget A Queens 7-2 in the other semifinal.

Amy Penner, Drue Ahola and Breanne Tessier all scored twice for the Thunderhawks in the win while Morgan Church had the other.

Jocelyn Wojciechowski and Jessie Scott tallied for the midget A Queens while Anjelina Badanai suffered the setback in goal.

The following is the latest My Hockey Canadian U-17 girls’ national rankings:

RANK TEAM (PROV.)
1. St. Albert Slash (Alta.)    
2. North Bay Ice Boltz (Ont.)        
3. Toronto Aeros (Ont.)    
4. Saskatoon Stars (Sask.)         
5. Stoney Creek Sabres (Ont.)        
6. St Catharines Brock Jr. Badgers (Ont.)     
7. Oakville Hornets (Ont.)        
8. Thunder Bay Sportop Queens (Ont.)          
9. Prince Albert Bears (Sask.)        
10. Pembina Valley Hawks (Man.)