Canada's Women's Olympic Team Loses to Team USA 3-2

NR.119.97
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November 10, 1997
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KITCHENER, ON -- Team USA got third-period goals from Jeanine Sobek and Gretchen Ulion to erase a 2-1 deficit and defeat Canada's Women's Olympic Team 3-2 in a pre-Olympic hockey game on Monday night at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

The U.S. victory evens the season series between the two top teams in women's hockey at 2-2 and came following two straight victories by Canada in New Brunswick on the weekend -- 3-2 on Friday in Bathurst and 4-1 on Saturday in Saint John.

Jayna Hefford of Kingston, ON gave Canada a 1-0 lead when she scored a power-play goal at 3:23 of the first period. That goal held up until 5:11 of the middle period when Karen Bye tied the score 1-1 during a U.S. power play. Tammy Shewchuk of St-Laurent, QC restored Canada's one-goal advantage when she converted a feed from Nancy Drolet of Drummondville, QC at 2:32 of the final period. But Sobek and Ulion scored their goals 65 seconds apart beginning at 10:43 of the final period to lift the U.S. to victory.

"This was a disappointing loss for us," said Team Canada head coach Shannon Miller. "We played very well on Friday and Saturday night and wanted to finish strongly tonight. But we came up short in effort and execution. The Americans outhustled us and outworked us and deserved to win."

On Tuesday, Team Canada departs for Finland where the club will play in a three-team tournament against Finland and Sweden. The tournament runs from Nov. 13 - 20. The team returns to its training base in Calgary on Nov. 24.

Game Summary

First Period

1. Canada, Jayna Hefford (Brisson, Wickenheiser) 3:23 PP

Penalties -- Merz USA (tripping) 1:50; Hefford CAN (body checking) 6:10; Mleczko USA (high-sticking) 8:11; Smith CAN (tripping) 9:48.

Second Period

2. USA, Karen Bye (Merz, Ruggiero) 5:11 PP

Penalties --Bordon USA (body checking) 0:03; Dupuis CAN (hooking) 4:48; Sobek USA (interference) 6:05; Campbell CAN (body checking) 10:15; Mounsey USA (cross checking) 16:24; Dupuis CAN (elbowing) 17:19.

Third Period

3. Canada, Shewchuk (Drolet) 2:32

Penalties -- Bailey USA (holding) 3:48; Sunohara CAN (interference) 5:29; Mleczko USA (high sticking) 6:59; Dupuis CAN (body checking) 7:40; Ruggiero USA (highsticking) 8:39; Heaney CAN (high sticking) 8:39.

Shots on goal by: Goaltenders (Shots/Saves)

USA 07-13-11--31 USA: De Costa (26/24)

CAN 11-08-07--26 CAN: Dube (31/28)

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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