Esso Women's Nationals
Encyclopedia
The Esso Women's Nationals is the Canadian women's senior ice hockey
championship, established in 1982. The winners of the event receives the Abby Hoffman Cup. The second place team is awarded the Fran Rider Cup, while the third place is given the Maureen McTeer Trophy. Nine or ten teams (depending on the tournament) qualify for the event, with two from the province hosting the event. The event is sponsored by Esso
.
and the Western Women's Hockey League
in 2004, this is the only event in the professional women's hockey calendar that sees teams from the two leagues play against each other. Although an agreement between the NWHL and the WWHL was reached in 2006 to merge the two leagues (wherein the latter would be absorbed as a separate division of the former), difficulty in setting up the Nationals alongside an interlocking playoff format prevented the merger from taking place - the Nationals eventually would take place mere days after the WWHL playoffs and before the NWHL playoffs.
With the collapse of the NWHL soon after and the establishment of the Canadian Women's Hockey League
in Eastern Canada, the Esso Nationals, which will also serve as a playoff of sorts between the WWHL and CWHL, received a format overhaul starting in 2008, in which the top two teams from the WWHL (representing British Columbia
, Alberta
, and Saskatchewan
) and the top two teams from the CWHL (representing Ontario
and Quebec
) automatically qualifying for the event. Teams representing the provinces without teams in either league fill out the remainder of the field, due to Hockey Canada
requirements that every province be represented. The Abby Hoffman Cup will be awarded to both the club pool and the team pool champions. Similarly, the Fran Rider Cup and the Maureen McTeer Trophy (the trophies awarded for the silver and bronze medalists at the Esso Nationals) will be awarded in both the club and team pool tournaments.
To level the playing field (which in recent years had been dominated by club teams) for 2008, the four club teams play in a separate tournament from the four all-star teams (and thus two championships will be awarded at the Esso Nationals), with the intent that the club pool (with the Clarkson Cup
as its championship) will be splintered off into its own tournament at some point in the future. The 2008 tournament also saw the first American
team to qualify, with the Minnesota Whitecaps
joining the Calgary Oval X-Treme
in representing the WWHL in the club pool. The format is the same for both the club and team tournaments: after the four teams play a single round robin pool, the four teams are seeded based on their standings and play a single-elimination tournament for the championship.
This arrangement had lasted for only one year; in 2009, the dispute between Clarkson and the Clarkson Cup
's artists was settled, and a new championship, the National Canadian Women's Hockey Championship, was created for the professional teams, under the same format. However, this was not without cost: rumours were abound that the Esso Women's Nationals would be discontinued in favor of introducing a midget championship, which was realized with the Esso Cup
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
championship, established in 1982. The winners of the event receives the Abby Hoffman Cup. The second place team is awarded the Fran Rider Cup, while the third place is given the Maureen McTeer Trophy. Nine or ten teams (depending on the tournament) qualify for the event, with two from the province hosting the event. The event is sponsored by Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
.
History
The split between the National Women's Hockey LeagueNational Women's Hockey League
The National Women's Hockey League was a women's ice hockey league. This League was in service between 1999 and 2007.-History:The NWHL superseded the old Central Ontario Women's Hockey League in 1998-99. After the old COWHL dropped down to three teams in 1997-98, the new league expanded to...
and the Western Women's Hockey League
Western Women's Hockey League
The Western Women's Hockey League is one of two major women's hockey leagues in Canada. The league was established in 2004, and consisted of teams in Canada and one from the United States...
in 2004, this is the only event in the professional women's hockey calendar that sees teams from the two leagues play against each other. Although an agreement between the NWHL and the WWHL was reached in 2006 to merge the two leagues (wherein the latter would be absorbed as a separate division of the former), difficulty in setting up the Nationals alongside an interlocking playoff format prevented the merger from taking place - the Nationals eventually would take place mere days after the WWHL playoffs and before the NWHL playoffs.
With the collapse of the NWHL soon after and the establishment of the Canadian Women's Hockey League
Canadian Women's Hockey League
The Canadian Women's Hockey League is one of two major women's ice hockey leagues in Canada. The league was founded in 2007. The league currently has six ice hockey teams: three in Ontario, one in Quebec, one in Alberta and one in Boston, Massachusetts....
in Eastern Canada, the Esso Nationals, which will also serve as a playoff of sorts between the WWHL and CWHL, received a format overhaul starting in 2008, in which the top two teams from the WWHL (representing British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
) and the top two teams from the CWHL (representing Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) automatically qualifying for the event. Teams representing the provinces without teams in either league fill out the remainder of the field, due to Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
requirements that every province be represented. The Abby Hoffman Cup will be awarded to both the club pool and the team pool champions. Similarly, the Fran Rider Cup and the Maureen McTeer Trophy (the trophies awarded for the silver and bronze medalists at the Esso Nationals) will be awarded in both the club and team pool tournaments.
To level the playing field (which in recent years had been dominated by club teams) for 2008, the four club teams play in a separate tournament from the four all-star teams (and thus two championships will be awarded at the Esso Nationals), with the intent that the club pool (with the Clarkson Cup
Clarkson Cup
The Clarkson Cup is an ice hockey trophy, which since 2009 has been awarded to the winner of the Canadian Women's Hockey Championship. Like the Stanley Cup, it was created by and named after a former Governor General of Canada: Adrienne Clarkson....
as its championship) will be splintered off into its own tournament at some point in the future. The 2008 tournament also saw the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
team to qualify, with the Minnesota Whitecaps
Minnesota Whitecaps
The Minnesota Whitecaps are a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team play its home games in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area...
joining the Calgary Oval X-Treme
Calgary Oval X-Treme
The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada...
in representing the WWHL in the club pool. The format is the same for both the club and team tournaments: after the four teams play a single round robin pool, the four teams are seeded based on their standings and play a single-elimination tournament for the championship.
This arrangement had lasted for only one year; in 2009, the dispute between Clarkson and the Clarkson Cup
Clarkson Cup
The Clarkson Cup is an ice hockey trophy, which since 2009 has been awarded to the winner of the Canadian Women's Hockey Championship. Like the Stanley Cup, it was created by and named after a former Governor General of Canada: Adrienne Clarkson....
's artists was settled, and a new championship, the National Canadian Women's Hockey Championship, was created for the professional teams, under the same format. However, this was not without cost: rumours were abound that the Esso Women's Nationals would be discontinued in favor of introducing a midget championship, which was realized with the Esso Cup
Esso Cup
The Esso Cup is a National Female Hockey championship for midget level players sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The Westman Wildcats are the first ever winners of the tournament in 2009...
.
List of Champions
| Year | Host | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Brantford, Ontario Brantford, Ontario Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent... |
Agincourt Canadians (Ontario) | Team Alberta | Team Quebec |
| 1983 | Brantford, Ontario Brantford, Ontario Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent... |
Burlington Ladies (Ontario) | Team Alberta | Team Saskatchewan |
| 1984 | Spruce Grove, Alberta Spruce Grove, Alberta Spruce Grove is a city in the vicinity of Edmonton, Alberta. Like nearby Stony Plain it is surrounded by Parkland County.With a population of 24,646, Spruce Grove is the 11th largest city in Alberta. The Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre is the local theatre, and its TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre... |
Edmonton Chimos Edmonton Chimos The Edmonton Chimos are a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at River Cree Twin Arenas in Edmonton, Canada. The Owner is Arlan Maschmayer.- History :... (Alberta) |
Team Quebec | Team Ontario |
| 1985 | Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :... |
Edmonton Chimos Edmonton Chimos The Edmonton Chimos are a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at River Cree Twin Arenas in Edmonton, Canada. The Owner is Arlan Maschmayer.- History :... (Alberta) |
Team Ontario | Team Quebec |
| 1986 | North Battleford, Saskatchewan North Battleford, Saskatchewan In the late 2000s a large number of Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford.-History:Prior to European settlement, the Battlefords area was home to several aboriginal groups... |
Hamilton Hawks (Ontario) | Team Saskatchewan | Team Alberta |
| 1987 | Riverview, New Brunswick Riverview, New Brunswick Riverview is a Canadian town in Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada.Riverview is located on the south side of the Petitcodiac River, across from the cities of Moncton and Dieppe. Riverview has an area of , and a population density of... |
Hamilton Hawks (Ontario) | Team Alberta | Team Saskatchewan |
| 1988 | Burlington, Ontario Burlington, Ontario Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment... |
Team Quebec | Team Alberta | Team Ontario |
| 1989 | Coquitlam, British Columbia Coquitlam, British Columbia Coquitlam is a city in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Coquitlam is mainly a suburban city, and is one of the 21 municipalities comprising Metro Vancouver. According to the 2007 Canadian Census, it is the 5th-largest city in British Columbia... |
Team Quebec | Team Ontario | Team Alberta |
| 1990 | Lloydminster, Saskatchewan | Team Quebec | Team Alberta | Team Ontario |
| 1991 | Verdun, Quebec | Toronto Aeros (Ontario) | Team Quebec | Team Alberta |
| 1992 | Edmonton, Alberta | Edmonton Chimos Edmonton Chimos The Edmonton Chimos are a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at River Cree Twin Arenas in Edmonton, Canada. The Owner is Arlan Maschmayer.- History :... (Alberta) |
Team Ontario | Team Quebec |
| 1993 | Ottawa, Ontario | Toronto Aeros (Ontario) | Team Alberta | Team Quebec |
| 1994 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Team Quebec | Team Alberta | Team Ontario |
| 1995 | Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :... |
Team Quebec | Team Ontario | Team New Brunswick |
| 1996 | Moncton, New Brunswick Moncton, New Brunswick Moncton is a Canadian city, located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. The city is situated in southeastern New Brunswick, within the Petitcodiac River Valley, and lies at the geographic centre of the Maritime Provinces... |
Team Quebec | North York Aeros (Ontario) | Maritime Sports Blades (New Brunswick) |
| 1997 | Richmond, British Columbia Richmond, British Columbia Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border... |
Edmonton Chimos Edmonton Chimos The Edmonton Chimos are a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at River Cree Twin Arenas in Edmonton, Canada. The Owner is Arlan Maschmayer.- History :... (Alberta) |
Team Quebec | Team Ontario |
| 1998 | Calgary, Alberta | Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
North York Aeros (Ontario) | Team Quebec |
| 1999 | Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades... |
Team Quebec | Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
Beatrice Aeros (Ontario) |
| 2000 | Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.... |
Beatrice Aeros (Ontario) | Team Quebec | Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
| 2001 | Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :... |
Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
Team Quebec | Team British Columbia |
| 2002 | Arnprior, Ontario Arnprior, Ontario Arnprior is a town in Renfrew County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley... and Renfrew, Ontario Renfrew, Ontario Renfrew, Ontario, Canada, is a town on the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County. Located one hour west of Ottawa in Eastern Ontario, Renfrew is the third largest town in the county after Petawawa and Pembroke. The town is a small transportation hub connecting Ontario Highway 60 and Highway 132 with... |
Team Quebec | Beatrice Aeros (Ontario) | Brampton Thunder Brampton Thunder The Brampton Canadettes-Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League. The Canadettes-Thunder play its home games at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario.-Team history:... (Ontario) |
| 2003 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
Team Ontario | Team Quebec |
| 2004 | Sherwood Park, Alberta Sherwood Park, Alberta Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630... |
Toronto Aeros (Ontario) | Team Alberta | Edmonton Chimos Edmonton Chimos The Edmonton Chimos are a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at River Cree Twin Arenas in Edmonton, Canada. The Owner is Arlan Maschmayer.- History :... (Alberta) |
| 2005 | Sarnia, Ontario Sarnia, Ontario Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River.... |
Toronto Aeros (Ontario) | Brampton Thunder Brampton Thunder The Brampton Canadettes-Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League. The Canadettes-Thunder play its home games at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario.-Team history:... (Ontario) |
Team Quebec |
| 2006 | Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.... |
Brampton Thunder Brampton Thunder The Brampton Canadettes-Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League. The Canadettes-Thunder play its home games at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario.-Team history:... (Ontario) |
Montreal Axion Montreal Axion The Montreal Axion were a National Women's Hockey League team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Axion represented Quebec at the 2005 Esso Women's Nationals... (Quebec) |
Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
| 2007 | Salmon Arm, British Columbia Salmon Arm, British Columbia -Climate:- Education :Public schools in Salmon Arm are part of School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap; within the city limits, there are currently five elementary schools , one middle school , and a secondary school with two campuses... |
Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... (Alberta) |
Etobicoke Dolphins (Ontario) | Mississauga Aeros Mississauga Aeros The Toronto Aeros are a professional women's ice hockey team that plays in Toronto, Ontario. The team has played in the Canadian Women's Hockey League since 2007 its inaugural season as the Mississauga Chiefs. The team plays its home games in Iceland Mississauga in Mississauga and MasterCard... (Ontario) |
| 2008 | Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Club) | Mississauga Chiefs Mississauga Chiefs The Mississauga Chiefs was a professional women's ice hockey team that plays in Mississauga , Ontario. The team has played in the National Women's Hockey League and after in the Canadian Women's Hockey League... |
Brampton Canadette-Thunder Brampton Thunder The Brampton Canadettes-Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League. The Canadettes-Thunder play its home games at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario.-Team history:... |
Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary Oval X-Treme The Calgary Oval X-Treme were a professional women's ice hockey team in the Western Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada... |
| Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Team) | Team Manitoba | Team Prince Edward Island | Team Nova Scotia |
Game details
- On March 22, 1998, Dana AntalDana AntalDana Antal is a women's ice hockey player. She won a gold medal with Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Prior to joining the Canadian national team, she played collegiate hockey for Cornell University. In her first season, she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, and...
scored at 5:31 of a 10 minute overtime period on a pass from Jennifer Botterill as Team Alberta (represented by the Calgary Oval X-Treme) defeated Team Ontario (represented by the Beatrice Aeros) by a 3-2 mark to win the Esso Nationals.
- The Calgary Oval X-Treme (Team Alberta) and the Brampton Thunder (Team Ontario) competed in the 2003 Esso Women's National Hockey Championship. Team Alberta won by a score of 6-3 in front of over 1,100 fans at Saskatchewan Place. Samantha HolmesSamantha HolmesSamantha Holmes played for the Canadian National women's ice hockey team from 2000 to 2005. She is also the founder of the Strathmore Rockies ice hockey team.-Early life:...
scored twice while Colleen SostoricsColleen SostoricsColleen Sostorics is a retired Canadian women's ice hockey defenseman. She has played extensively for Canada at the international level, including three Olympic gold medals...
and Delaney CollinsDelaney CollinsDelaney Collins is a women's ice hockey player. On August 23, 2011, Collins announced her retirement from international play.-Playing career:...
each contributed two assists. Team Alberta outscored their opponents in the tournament 46 to 10. With the win, Team Alberta was awarded the Abby Hoffman Cup.
Players of the game
- 2003, Dana Antal, Oval X-Treme (Team Alberta)
- 2003, Jayna Hefford, Brampton Thunder (Team Ontario)