The Esso Cup is Canada's national U-18 club championships. Last year, the Regina Rebels, with a roster loaded with NCAA destined players like Stryker Zablocki, Berlin Lolacher, and Brooklyn Nimeegers won the national crown.
In 2023 it was players like Canadian U-18 national team gold medalist Caileigh Tiller guiding the way for the Stoney Creek Sabres.
The Esso Cup has become a stomping ground of top NCAA and U Sports recruits in recent years, with several members of Canada's U-18 national team competing, and a growing list of PWHL alumni who have come through the event.
This year, the tournament will have their share of players to watch, and storylines to follow. Here's a look.
Can anyone beat the Edmonton Jr. Oilers?
Technically, the answer is yes. The Oilers had a 49-7-1 record this season, but when you compare their roster to the rest entering the Esso Cup, and it's clear the top ranked Edmonton Jr. Oilers are the team to beat. The bring nine NCAA Division 1 committed players, and another seven U Sports committed players to the tournament. The players who aren't yet committed, will be.
Among their top players are Clarkson commit Ciara Lang who was named Best Defender at the 2024 Esso Cup. Parker Small (Long Island University) and Evie Hanson (Union College) were their leading scorers this season up front, while Lang, Bree Pediger (Merrimack) and Cadence Richards (Brown) will anchor the blueline. The lone crack in their armour is the absence of captain Layla Matthew. Matthew, who is headed to Clarkson, has been out since December.
North York Looking For Redemption
Early in the 2024 tournament, the North York Storm looked too young and too inexperienced to challenge for an Esso Cup. By the end of the tournament, they were silver medalists. This year, the Storm are back, with the bulk of their roster intact and ready to challenge for a national title.
From last year's tournament Demi Lazarou, and Lily Paisley are all back after leading the Storm in scoring. As is top defender Olivia VanSickle and starting goalie Jamie Sanford. The Storm didn't lose many, and where they did, the added year of experience and development has more than filled in the gaps. Overall they have 16 returning players.
Can the hosts hang on?
It's hit or miss when it comes to the competitiveness of teams hosting the Esso Cup. The 2025 hosts, the Llyodminster Steelers will have a difficult task staying competitive. The Steelers rose to the competition this year against the Edmonton Jr. Oilers. They beat them once and took them to a shootout another time. Still the Steelers only finished fourth in the Alberta Female Hockey League. In a short tournament like the Esso Cup, one win is all it takes to change your fate, and the Steelers have that in them, but they enter as decided underdogs.
National Team Futures?
Current Team Canada U-18 national team member Anais Leprohon will play for the Quebec champions, Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière.
In recent seasons, Stryker Zablocki, Caileigh Tiller, Jessie Pellerin, and Eloise Caron all played in the Esso Cup. There aren't clear candidates this year, but the tournament is often a launch pad for younger prospects.
Edmonton's Ciara Lang was on the cusp of making Canada last year, and could crack the Canadian roster this season.