2009-10 National Women's Under-18 Team

HOT GOALTENDING THE STORY AS OWHA TOPS CANADIAN U18S

TORONTO, Ont. – The chances were there for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team on Wednesday night, but the execution was not.

Canada directed 47 shots at the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association All-Stars, but could only manage a pair of goals in a 3-2 loss at the Mastercard Centre in its final pre-tournament game before the 2010 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship begins this weekend in Chicago, Ill.

The Canadian side managed at least 13 shots in each period but was denied time and time again by the OWHA trio of Nicole Paniccia, Kristy Garrow and Lisa Steffes, all of whom attended the U18 selection camp back in August but were not selected for the final roster.

Despite being outshot 13-7 in the opening period it was the OWHA who hit the scoreboard first, thanks to an individual effort by Kelly Babstock, who froze Canadian goaltender Carmen MacDonald (Pictou, N.S./Westminster School, U.S. Prep) and gave the Ontarians a 1-0 lead.

Canada pulled even just past the six-minute mark of the second period when Jessica Campbell (Melville, Sask./Pursuit of Excellence, Midget AAA) finished off a pretty pass from Jillian Saulnier (Halifax, N.S./Toronto, PWHL) to make it 1-1.

But a turnover in the neutral zone eight minutes later led to a 2-on-1 for the OWHA, and Babstock set up Danielle Gagne to restore the one-goal advantage heading into the second intermission.

The Canadian offence really turned up the pressure in the third period, outshooting the OWHA 20-5, but Ally Tarr gave the Ontario side some insurance on a power play at 8:15, converting a pass from Vanessa Welten for the 3-1 goal.

That goal turned out to be very important after Christine Bestland (Brunkild, Man./Pursuit of Excellence, Midget AAA) scored for Canada with goaltender Erica Howe (Orleans, Ont./Ottawa, PWHL) on the bench for an extra attacker in the dying minutes to get the Canadians to within one.

A late power play and a pulled goaltender gave Canada a 6-on-4 advantage for the final 40 seconds, but Steffes held her ground to hand Canada its second pre-tournament loss in as many days.

After six days in Toronto, Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team heads south of the border on Thursday to prepare for its world championship opener on Saturday (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT) against Russia.

Goals/Buts :
13:09 OWHA Kelly Babstock

Penalties/Pénalités :
01:47 OWHA Shannon Stoneburgh (Holding/Retenir)
09:00 CAN Shannon Doyle (Hooking/Accrocher)
13:47 OWHA Michelle Burke (Tripping/Faire trébucher)

Goals/Buts:&
6:15 CAN Jessica Campbell (Jillian Saulnier)
14:01 OWHA Danielle Gagne (Kelly Babstock)

Penalties/Pénalités:
03:23 OWHA Michelle Burke (Holding the Stick/Retenir de bâton)
08:00 OWHA Amanda Lucky (Interference/Obstruction)
11:04 CAN Caitlin MacDonald (Delay of Game/Retarder le match)
17:10 OWHA Shannon Stoneburgh (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)

Goals/Buts:
08:17 OWHA Ally Tarr (Vanessa Welten, Nicole Gifford) PP/AN
18:40 CAN Christine Bestland (Erin Ambrose)

Penalties/Pénalités:
01:56 CAN Laurie Kingsbury (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
03:24 OWHA Katarina Zgraja (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)
07:53 CAN Jillian Saulnier (Kneeing/Donner du genou)
19:21 OWHA Katarina Zgraja (Holding/Retenir)