2004 IIHF Women's World Championship

Canada 1
USA 3

Qualifier
Halifax Metro Centre
Saturday, April 3, 2004

Canada loses first World Championship game ever
By Joel Mac Dougall

The United States broke Team Canada’s 37 game winning streak at the IIHF World Championships Saturday at the Metro Centre. Until that match-up, Canada had won every single game they have played since the inception of the World Women’s Hockey Championship in 1990.

“If you play games, the streak is not going to go on forever,” Canadian head coach Karen Hughes said after the game.

The first period was where this game was decided. Canada came out flat and had trouble dealing with the intense forecheck of the United States. “We weren’t ready to compete with them in the first period,” said Hughes. “We didn’t pass the puck as well as we needed.”

“We didn’t deserve to win today,” remarked Hayley Wickenheiser. “We didn’t physically battle with them.”

Canada frequently attempted passes through the middle that were picked off by the active sticks of the US forwards. The giveaways proved to be costly for the Canadians. One of those passes led to a golden opportunity for the States, but that shot ended up ringing off the post. The play continued and Canada ultimately gave the United States the power-play that opened up the scoring.

Just 30 seconds into the power-play Krissy Wendell put a shot through a mad scramble in front of the Canadian net. Canadian goaltender Kim St. Pierre just could not stop the shot.

Two minutes later Canada had the man advantage and was able restore the tie when Jennifer Botterill put home a pass from Cheryl Pounder on a three-on-one.

The first period battle of special teams continued as the USA went back up by one on another power-play opportunity. Tricia Dunn managed to get just enough off Natalie Darwitz’s shot from the top of the circle to deflect the puck passed a screened St. Pierre. That goal proved to be the game-winner.

The Canadians managed to come out with a better effort for the second, but were stymied by a rock-solid performance from American netminder Pam Dreyer.

“I have a calming style,” said Dreyer. “I played my angles fairly sharp. You’ve just got to smile and play on.”
        
 Darwitz finished the scoring in the second with a shot from behind the goal line that ricocheted off St. Pierre’s mask and found the back of the net. “I just shot the puck and hoped for a good bounce,” said the US forward.

The two teams will have a chance to meet one another again in the gold-medal game Tuesday night. The United States will look to continue the trend that has seen them take eight of the last nine meetings between the two, while Canada will hope to have the chance to exact some revenge for Saturday’s loss.

“We have to learn from our mistakes and come out better on Tuesday,” said St. Pierre.


Box Score
CAN

1

0

0

1

0

Compte
USA

2

1

0

3

0


Scoring/Buts :
13.02 1 - 2 PP1 USA 25. DUNN, Tricia Game Winning Goal (22. DARWITZ, Natalie)
09.08 1 - 1 PP1 Canada 17. BOTTERILL, Jennifer (11. POUNDER, Cheryl)
07.08 0 - 1 PP1 USA 17. WENDELL, Krissy


Penalties/Pénalités :
19.29 2 min Canada 6. BRISSON, Therese Hooking
16.13 2 min USA 12. POTTER, Jenny Tripping
13.43 2 min USA 9. KILBOURNE, Andrea Tripping
11.35 2 min Canada 9. FERRARI, Gillian Body Checking
08.30 2 min USA 6. VASICHEK, Julianne Interference
06.39 2 min Canada 34. COLLINS, Delaney Slashing
Scoring/Buts :
24.25 1 - 3 EQ USA 22. DARWITZ, Natalie

Penalties/Pénalités :
36.29 2 min Canada 9. FERRARI, Gillian Boarding
32.10 2 min USA 7. STEPHENS, Kelly Roughing
28.03 2 min USA 10. INSALACO, Kim Tripping
25.48 2 min Canada 9. FERRARI, Gillian Body Checking
Scoring/Buts :

Penalties/Pénalités :

 
Goaltenders CAN 33. ST PIERRE, Kim
Gardiens de but USA 31. DREYER, Pam

Shots on Goal by Shots on Goal by

1st/1re

2nd/2e

3rd/3e

Final

Shots on Goal by CAN

5

16

6

27

Tirs au but par USA

12

7

5

24


Officials Referee/Arbitre HIRVONEN Anu
Officiels Linesmen/
Juges des lignes
HAAPANEN Eeva
SUBAN Johanna

Attendance/Assistance 8,505

USA and Canada play in Olympic rematch
By Joel Mac Dougall

Canada and the United States meet Saturday afternoon in the game that everyone has been waiting for.
Canada and the US both finished at the top of their first round pools and will kick off the second round, 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the Metro Centre in Halifax.

Canada holds the edge in the overall series, with a record of 31-23-0. This is the first meeting between the two teams since the 2003 Four Nations Cup last November in Sweden, when the Americans managed to win both meetings en route to the gold medal.

This time the USA could be without the services of two of their most experienced forwards on the team. Shelley Looney, a veteran of six World Championships, tore the MCL and ACL in her left knee Thursday in a game against Russia. She will be sidelined for the rest of the Championship.

In the first game of the tournament Cammi Granato, the team’s all-time leading scorer at the World Championships, went down with a knee injury. There has been no official word as to whether or not Granato will play on Saturday, but Team USA head coach Ben Smith is optimistic. "She seemed a lot better (Thursday)," said Smith.

"We’ll have to wait and see how she feels."

Meanwhile, Canada is healthy and coming off an impressive 13-0 victory over Germany Thursday night. The team had a torrid start, scoring three goals in the first 1:42 as part of an eight goal first period. The Canadians seemed to score at will and moved the puck around smoothly.

"It's important that each player on our team feels confident going into the next game," said six-time World Champion Danielle Goyette. "We know the next game's going to be harder, so feeling good on the ice with passing and skating is going to help us."

The game promises to be an exciting one and is expected to be a preview of the gold-medal game next Tuesday night. The gold-medal match-up is sold out, but there were still tickets available for the Saturday game as of Friday morning.

For more information:
Kalli Quinn Director, Female National Teams | Équipes nationales féminines