Sweden Games
Wednesday, November 7, 2001
Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden - Canada's National Men's Team rebounded from a tough 7-4 defeat yesterday at the hands of the Swedes to gain a single point in shootout loss to Team Russia Wednesday evening.

The Russians opened the scoring at the 14:25 mark of the first period with a shot that deflected off a Canadian defender and found it's way past Tom Draper in goal for Canada. The Russians scored 15 seconds later to take a 2 goal lead that held up until late in the second period.

Team Canada started the comeback scoring their first goal on a breakaway from Canadian "Player of the Game", Frank Banham at 16:03 of the second period. John Miner sent Banham in alone with a beautiful pass between the Russian defenders and Banham made no mistake faking a slap shot before slipping a backhand between the legs of the Russian goalie, Egor Podomatsky.

Canada tied the game when Dave Tomlinson of the Mannheim Eagles of the German Professional League converted a Terry Yake rebound at the 12:28 mark of the third period. Canada killed off 9 Russian Power Plays and outshot the Russians 37-27 but were unable to find the winner during regulation time.

Neither team scored in the extra frame setting up an exciting "Game Winning Shot" shootout with a sudden death, one shot per team, finish. Mike Maneluk, who played 39 games for the Columbus Bluejackets last season shot first for Canada releasing a quick wrist shot that was turned aside by the Russian netminder. This set the stage for Russian forward Valery Karpov who slowly picked up the puck at center and scored with a great move to the backhand on Canadian goaltender, Tom Draper to give the Russians the victory.

Canada gained a single point in the loss and now sits with a record of 0-0-1-1 and will get the day off tomorrow before facing Team Czech Republic on Friday. Canada will conclude the Sweden Games on Saturday versus Team Finland who lost to the Czech Republic 7-2 last night in Helsinki.

The Canada vs. Russia match up was the only game on the schedule today with the two undefeated teams; Sweden and the Czech Repbulic set to meet Thursday. Also, tomorrow will see Finland play Russia in the first of the two games of the day.
For more information on Team Canada at the Sweden Games please contact Scott Salmond in Sweden at 46 737 202247.

Game Summary