Brooklyn Dukart scored 10:36 into double overtime on Sunday to give the Estevan Power Dodge Chargers a 3-2 win in Game 2 of the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League final and league championship.
The Chargers won the league's bantam A title after having beaten the Springside Lions 5-4 in Game 1 of the best-of-three series on Wednesday at Spectra Place.
Sunday's deciding game was played in Kamsack.
"There's nothing like seeing the look on those kids' faces (on Sunday). Words cannot describe it," said Chargers head coach Chad Chapman.
"Some of those kids, I've coached every year since they started lacing up skates. The look on their faces is indescribable."
In the second overtime period, Dukart picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and, instead of going off for a change, she curled into the middle of the ice and fired a shot that caught Springside's goalie going the wrong way and beat her blocker side.
Chapman said the fact that the game required five periods only added to the feeling of excitement.
"I'd rather win 3-2 in double OT than smoke someone 9-0, although it might make it easier on my heart," he said.
"As overtime went on and the chances were back and forth, you could feel the excitement and anticipation of scoring that goal on both sides. They were focused, and they wanted it to happen in the worst way."
The Chargers had to overcome a 2-0 deficit to earn the win, as Springside got goals from Ashley Hume and Katelyn Breitkreuz in the second period after a scoreless first.
But Dukart scored with 4:12 left in the period to get the Chargers on the board, and then Jenna Grube tied it up, 5:22 into the third.
Chapman said that having to come back in both games of the final was a testament to the character of his team.
"We said at the start of the year that we might not be the most talented team in the league, but we'll definitely be the hardest-working. I can't explain how much character that team has. It's unbelievable. That was our slogan all year, 'we will make it happen.'"
Chapman said there was some extra motivation for many of the players, as last year's team lost the league final in overtime of Game 3, and many of the players are on the Extreme Bruins team which lost the provincial final on Friday.
"The players that were returning from last year had that mentality of what it was going to take to do it. It was kind of a redemption thing for them to do it."
In the series opener, the Chargers fell behind 3-2 after the first period but came back for the win.
Bailey Pierson, Jessica Pele, Teanna Michel, Mariah McKersie and Brooklyn Dukart scored for the Chargers.
Abbey Hollinger, Hume, Breitkreuz and Teagan Lubiniecki responded for the Lions.
This marks the second straight year that Estevan's female hockey program has won a championship after the peewee girls' team won provincials last season. Several other teams have also reached league and provincial finals.
"I think it's a testament to the dedication of the coaches, parents and players, and our director, Tricia DeBruyne, who have grown this into a program," said Chapman.
"Hopefully it means we can take the next step and bring more stuff in for the female program in Estevan and it blows up and becomes a long-term sustainable program so all girls who grow up and play hockey in Estevan can play."
