The Buffalo Beauts, avenging their 2016 Isobel Cup loss to the Boston Pride in the inaugural Cup finals, today clinched the 2017 and second-ever Isobel Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Pride in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Despite a pro-Boston crowd in Lowell, and star power like Hilary Knight, Brianna decker and Alex Carpenter across the ice from them, it was the Beauts that were victorious, all thanks to goaltender and game MVP Brianne McLaughlin. It was McLaughlin who put forth a 60-save masterpiece, giving her team the chance to take a 3-0 lead into the third period, and hang on to the win despite late goals from Knight and Carpenter. Megan Bozek, Emily Janiga and Corrine Buie scored for Buffalo.
The finale was overshadowed by the looming 2017 World Championships in Plymouth, Michigan, which now may not end up featuring many of the players in today’s final. The boycott announced earlier this week is still standing, with USA Hockey vowing to put together another team in time for the tournament, and the existing U.S. team refusing thus far to budge. Two members of the Beauts (Bozek and Emily Pfalzer), along with seven Pride players, were announced to the original roster, and are all partaking in the boycott.
Our congratulations go out to the players, management and fans of the Beauts, in particular the six American players that have also held the IHLC:
| 🇺🇸 Megan Bozek, defence 🇺🇸 Lisa Chesson, defence 🇺🇸 Shiann Darkangelo, forward |
🇺🇸 Brianne McLaughlin, goaltender 🇺🇸 Emily Pfalzer, defence 🇺🇸 Kelley Steadman, forward |
Photo Credit: Buffalo Beauts – IIHF – HHOF – IOC
