Team Canada Evaluation Camp
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Calgary, AB

CALGARY, AB – After six days of camp, the National Women’s Team closed out the week with a game against the Calgary Midget AAA Northstars. Canada’s Sami Jo Small played her second game between the pipes, and she did not disappoint as the Nat’s won 3-2. The Red and White opened the scoring with a goal by Minnesota-Duluth star Caroline Ouellette as she buried one past the Northstars goaltender.

At the half way mark of the second period, Canada’s Samantha Holmes fired a bullet from the hash marks as it slipped through the goalies arm. Canada added their third of the night as Gina Kingsbury converted a pass from Cherie Piper on the doorstep to give Canada a commanding 3-0 lead. But the Northstars were not giving up, and they replied with a power play goal with just 0.4 seconds left in the period to bring them back to within two goals.

With a 3-1 lead, Canada played a tight defensive game, but gave up a power play goal half way through the third to bring the Northstars to within one. But that was as close as they would get as Sami Jo Small shut the door and recorded a 3-2 victory.

By all accounts it was a very successful camp, and the level of competition was great from start to finish. All out of town players will now depart for their various destinations across North America on Friday, January 28 and rejoin their club teams. Hockey Canada will announce their roster for the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Linkoping, Sweden at the beginning of March.