The Etobicoke Dolphins kicked off their U22 Elite season with a commanding 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators, anchored by a complete defensive performance and a shutout from goaltender Maija St-Pierre. The Dolphins set the tone early, applying relentless pressure that paid off just 1:24 into the first period. Skylar Ruschpler, wearing number 91, found the back of the net with Renee Bishop picking up the primary assist, giving the home team a lead they would never relinquish. Despite the Senators' efforts to respond, the Dolphins' defense, led by their goalie, held firm, turning away all 27 shots they faced in the contest.
The middle frame became a parade to the penalty box, with four minor penalties called. The Senators' Brooke Glynn and Charlotte Wheeler were each called for hooking, while the Dolphins saw Haley Box and Rachel Bishop take penalties for hooking and body checking, respectively. Neither power play could break through, however, as both penalty kill units stood tall. The Dolphins began to pull away in shots, outshooting Ottawa 15-10 in the second, but Senators' netminder Cameron Garcia kept her team within striking distance with several key saves.
Any hope of an Ottawa comeback was extinguished early in the third period when the Dolphins' Haley Box redeemed her earlier penalty in the best way possible. At the 9:11 mark, Box, assisted by Madeline McCullough and Adrianna Milani, buried an even-strength goal to double the lead to 2-0. The Senators' Chloë Martineau took a tripping penalty shortly after, but the Dolphins' power play was again stifled. Ottawa could not muster a sustained offensive push in the final minutes, managing only 8 shots in the third as the Dolphins closed out the game with an 18-8 shot advantage in the period to seal the 2-0 win and the shutout for Maija St-Pierre and her team.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875