Ice Boltz lose heartbreaker to Quebec in Esso Cup final

The North Bay Ice Boltz played a tremendous first 41 minutes in the Esso Cup final.

The Ice Boltz scored on a long wrist shot goal early in the first period and increased their lead early in the 3rd period on a nice shot by Corie Jacobson.

But after that, the icy floor of the Bill Copeland Centre fell right out from underneath them.

After Sabrina Picard kept Quebec off the score sheet, for over 42 minutes, the flood gates opened big time as LHFDQ Nord responded with 3 goals in 2:04 and added an insurance marker a few minutes later, along with an empty netter as Team Quebec shocked the Ice Boltz 5-2 in the Esso Cup final.

Audrey Belzile, Roxanne Daley, Katia Boulianne, Eve-Audrey Picard and Alexe Drouin did the 3rd period damage for Quebec.

The LHFDQ Nord defeated the Ice Boltz 3-1 in the round robin portion of the tournament on Thursday.

After the game, tears flowed down the cheeks of the North Bay Ice Boltz, who played for coach Darren Turcotte for the last time as he joins the Nipissing Lakers Women's Varsity Hockey team this spring.

The Esso Cup final was aired live on TSN 2 on Saturday night.