The Wakatipu Wild etched its name on the New Zealand Women’s Ice Hockey League trophy for the first time in Dunedin yesterday.
The Queenstown-based team held its nerve to beat the defending champion Canterbury Inferno 2-0 at the Dunedin Ice Stadium.
Gina Davis scored the opening goal, but the Wild had to cling to a 1-0 lead until Lova Holmqvist added an insurance goal in the third period.
It was the first title for the Wakatipu team since Southern, the 2018 champion, split into Queenstown and Dunedin teams.
The Dunedin Thunder was unlucky to miss out on the bronze medal, pipped 5-4 by the Auckland Storm in a thriller yesterday.
Caitlin Heale scored the only goal of the first period before Hannah Cross, on the power play, gave the Thunder a 2-0 lead.
The Aucklanders replied with four unanswered goals, Heale grabbed her second, the Storm went up 5-3, and Abbey Heale grabbed a late consolation goal.
On Saturday, the Wild beat the Thunder 7-2 in one semifinal.
Holmqvist scored four goals and Kellye Nelson added five points (two goals, three assists) for the Wild, which led 3-1 after the first period and 4-0 after two.
Caitlin Orr and Kate Vernal scored goals for the Thunder.
The Inferno beat the Storm 5-2 in the other semifinal.
