Fraser Valley Rush are bound for the Esso Cup, and their second bid for a national championship in as many years, after the 91原创-based U18 women鈥檚 hockey team triumphed at the 2023 Pacific Regional Championships, defeating the Alberta champions Red Deer Chiefs.

Rush, a B.C. Elite Hockey League zone team that plays out of the 91原创 Twin Rinks with players from Whistler to Hope, including 91原创 and Surrey, took the best-of-three series, shutting out the Chiefs 2-0 on Friday, April 7, and 5-2 on Saturday, April 8 in Red Deer.

It came after the team swept the pacific regional championships following a BCEHL season where the team was all but unbeatable, with just two losses in 30 games.

2023 Pacific Regional Champions!
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鈥� Fraser Valley Rush (@FVRush_aaa)

Coach Tony Lindsay said it will be the second trip to the Esso Cup for many players, after the team came close, but had to sette for silver last year after losing 4-1 in the Cup final to Ontario鈥檚 Durham West Lightning, in a game televised nationally on TSN.

鈥淲e returned 13 players,鈥� Lindsay told the 91原创 Advance Times, describing the roster as 鈥渁 veteran team, if you will.鈥�

After their 鈥渨ide-eyed鈥� first Esso outing, he said the team has a good idea of what to expect.

鈥淭hey knew the intensity would ramp up,鈥� Lindsay remarked.

鈥淭he challenge now, is we have to raise it another level. We have to out-compete the other team, we have to have more fun than the other team [because] we know we play better when we have fun.鈥�

One of those returning veterans of the Esso campaign is 91原创鈥檚 Mackenzie Galick, who plays defence.

鈥淭he experience I鈥檝e had with the Fraser Valley Rush team has been amazing,鈥� Galick commented.

鈥淭his is my second year with the team and the second year in a row that our team has won the provincial championships and, just this past weekend, the regional pacific championships in Red Deer. We are all so excited to have achieved this.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to be able to go back to the Esso Cup and represent our province,鈥� Galick said. 鈥淲e are all hoping to compete harder this year.鈥�

Galick started out with the 91原创 Minor Hockey Association, playing on the peewee A1 boys team in her final year. In the 2021/22 season, she made the Rush roster, as an underage player at 14.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been an incredible experience for me鈥� Galick said.

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Rush GM Alain Wozney cited the team鈥檚 鈥渁mazing ability to have fun and enjoy every aspect of the game from the competition to the culture of the team. One of the most important part of the success of this team is exactly that. Have fun, work hard, and promote togetherness as a group.

Wozny praised the coaches as 鈥渃ommitted and dedicated to the culture of the team.鈥�

On Sunday, April 23, the Hockey Canada national club championship for women, the Esso Cup national trophy, gets underway in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, with six teams playing at the Art Hauser Centre.

The championship game, which will be broadcast by TSN, will take place on Sunday, Apr. 29.

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