SAINT JOHN, NB -- Goaltender Manon Rhéaume stopped 21 of 22 shots and Canada got goals from four different players to defeat Team USA in a women's pre-Olympic game on Saturday night.

The victory improved Canada's Women's Olympic Team's won-lost record to 8-1 so far as the team prepares to compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. The only loss was a 5-4 defeat in a shootout against the Americans in Salt Lake City, UT on Oct. 25. This was Canada's second straight triumph over Team USA, whom they beat 3-2 on Friday night in Bathurst, NB. The two teams will play again on Monday night in Kitchener, ON.

New Brunswick native Stacy Wilson of Salisbury, opened the scoring for Canada with a power-play goal at 4:07 of the first period and Kingston, ON native Jayna Hefford made it 2-0 with another power play goal at 5:57 of the second. Defender Fiona Smith of Edam, SK widened the lead to 3-0 when she scored four minutes later and Vicky Sunohara of Scarborough, ON made it 4-0 with an unassisted goal at 5:22 of the third period. Alana Blahoski scored the only goal for Team USA, a power-play effort at 10:32 of the final period. Sarah Tueting played in goal for the Americans and faced 28 shots.

"We came to play and we did for three periods," said Team Canada assistant coach Daniele Sauvageau. "Manon Rhéaume played an outstanding game. We played as a team and executed the little things very well. We were intense but disciplined."

Summary

First Period

1. Canada, Wilson (McCormack, Nystrom) 4:07 PP

Penalties -- O'Sullivan USA (highsticking) 4:01; Kellar CAN (interference) 11:02; Wilson CAN (hooking) 17:38.

Second Period

2. Canada, Hefford (Heaney, Shewchuk) 5:57 PP

3. Canada, Smith (Drolet) 9:57

Penalties -- O'Leary USA (highsticking) 4:49; Ruggiero USA (hooking) 5:11; Brisson CAN (roughing) 15:26.

Third Period

4. Canada, Sunohara 5:22

5. USA, Blahoski (Baker, O'Sullivan) 10:32 PP

Penalties -- Dunn USA (tripping) 6:58; James CAN (roughing) 9:23; Nystrom CAN (body checking) 18:15; Ruggiero USA (roughing); Diduck CAN (body checking); Wickenheiser CAN (roughing) 19:10.

Shots on goal by: Goaltenders (shots/saves)

USA -- 06-13-3--22 USA: Tueting (28/24)

CAN -- 10-08-10--28 CAN: Rhéaume (22/21)