The Buffalo Beauts, avenging their 2016ย Isobel Cup loss to the Boston Prideย in the inaugural Cup finals, today clinched the 2017 and second-ever Isobelย Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Prideย 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 ofย the Beauts (Bozek and Emily Pfalzer), along with seven Pride players, were announced to the original roster, and are allย partaking in the boycott.
Our congratulations go out to the players, management and fans of the Beauts, with those on the roster that have also held the IHLC highlighted in bold:
๐บ๐ธ Morgan Beikirch, forward ๐บ๐ธ Megan Bozek, defence ๐จ๐ฆ Harrison Browne, forward ๐บ๐ธ Corinne Buie, forward ๐บ๐ธ Jordyn Burns, defence ๐จ๐ฆ Sarah Casorso, defence ๐บ๐ธย Lisa Chesson, defence ๐บ๐ธย Shiann Darkangelo, forward ๐บ๐ธ Jacquie Greco, defence ๐บ๐ธ Paige Harrington, defence ๐บ๐ธ Emily Janiga, forward ๐บ๐ธ Kourtney Kunichika, forward |
๐จ๐ฆ Kristina Lavoie, forward ๐จ๐ฆ Amanda Leveille, goaltender ๐บ๐ธ Emily Matheson, defence ๐บ๐ธ Brianne McLaughlin, goaltender ๐บ๐ธ Kelsey Neumann, goaltender ๐บ๐ธ Kayla Parsons, defence ๐บ๐ธ Emily Pfalzer, defence ๐บ๐ธ Hayley Scamurra, forward ๐บ๐ธ Anne Schleper, defence ๐จ๐ฆ Devon Skeats, forward ๐บ๐ธ Kelley Steadman, forward ๐บ๐ธ Ashley Vesci, forward |
Photo Credit: Buffalo Beautsย – IIHF – HHOF – IOC