LINKOPING, SWEDEN – Canada’s National Women’s Team has advanced to the gold medal final (tomorrow, Saturday, April 9 at 2pm ET / 11am PT TSN/RDS) at the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship, after a 3-0 win over Finland in the semi-finals on Friday. Canada is undefeated at the Worlds at 4-0, after three straight wins in the round robin portion of the tournament and its semi-final win on Friday.

For a ninth consecutive World Women’s Championship, Canada and USA will play in the gold medal final. Canada has captured all eight previous World Women’s Hockey Championships (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004).

The gold medal game at the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship will take place at the Cloetta Centre in Linkoping, Sweden on Saturday, April 9th at 2:00pm ET / 11:00 am PT. The game will be broadcast LIVE across Canada on TSN/RDS (check local listings).

NOTE TO MEDIA:
Media interview requests for players following the Championship game should be made IN ADVANCE of Saturday’s game, by contacting Team Canada Media Relations Coordinator. Hockey Canada will do its utmost to accommodate interview requests, however, due to numerous media requests on-site and time constraints, phone interviews following the Championship game may be limited.

Finland will play Sweden in the bronze medal game on Saturday, April 9 at 7:00pm (local) in Norrkoping, Sweden

Jayna Hefford led Canada to a win on Friday with two goals while goaltender Charline Labonte earned her second World Championship win with 16 saves. Canada’s all-time record in World Championship play stands at 43-1.

With a win tomorrow, Canada would tie the IIHF record with its ninth consecutive World Championship win, a record that is currently held by the Soviet Union’s Men’s National Team. 

Team Canada at the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship:

Round Robin
Canada 12 Kazakhstan 0
Canada 13 Russia 0
Canada 10 Sweden 0

Semi Finals
Canada 3 Finland 0

GOLD MEDAL FINAL:
Saturday, April 9 - CANADA VS. USA - 2pm ET / 11am PT, LIVE on TSN/RDS

For complete information, including game summaries, rosters, profiles, photos and to bid on game worn Team Canada jerseys, go to official website of Team Canada at the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship, at www.hockeycanada.ca