2007-08 National Women's Team

WICKENHEISER’S HAT TRICK LIFTS CANADA TO WIN

CALGARY, AB – Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, SK/Calgary, WWHL) scored three goals and had an assist as Canada’s National Women’s Team beat the Calgary Royals midget AAA team 5-2 on Wednesday night at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena.

The game was the first of four for Team Canada, which is holding its January evaluation camp this week. Twenty-two players are battling for spots on the team that will represent Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship (April 4-13 in Harbin, China).

On Wednesday, Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, QC/Minnesota, WWHL) opened the scoring when she put in her own rebound, beating the Royals’ Jeff Magee at 9:22. The play was started by a great pass from Jennifer Botterill (Winnipeg, MB/Mississauga, CWHL).

Wickenheiser then scored a shorthanded goal on a slap shot at 17:57 to make it 2-0. Wickenheiser streaked down the right side and blasted the puck past Olivier Favreau, who replaced Magee midway through the period.

Canada led 2-0 after two.

The Royals got on the board at 6:25 of the third period, as Alex Grieve beat Charline Labonté (Boisbriand, QC/McGill, CIS). Labonté ended up making 22 saves on 24 shots for the win.

Wickenheiser made it 3-1 for Canada at 7:07 and, just 28 seconds later, Kelly Bechard (Sedley, SK/Calgary, WWHL) scored to make it 4-1. Bechard finished with a goal and an assist.

The Royals’ second goal was scored by Matt Marantz. Wickenheiser completed the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:19.

Team Canada is off on Thursday, before taking to the ice Friday for a game against the UFA Bisons, who, like the Royals, play in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. Game time is 7:30 p.m., at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena.

The January evaluation camp is one of the tools Hockey Canada uses to select the National Women’s Team for the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship. Also taken into account are performances at the NWT Fall Festival, which was held in September 2007 in Prince George, BC, and the 4 Nations Cup, which went in November in Sweden.

Also, Hockey Canada staff monitors players’ performances with their respective club teams.

CAN - National Women's Team

Calgary Royals (Midget AAA)

1 Olivier Favreau
31 Jeff Magee
2 Sean Wallace
3 Neil Jones
4 Patrick Howey
6 Mark McDonald
18 David Roper
21 Pat Pinder
7 Chris Perkin
8 Branden Gracel
9 Matt Marantz
10 Alex Grieve
11 Jonathan Turk
12 Zack Wildman
15 Evan Warner
16 James Braakman
17 Barclay Hickey
19 Patrick McNaught

1

2

3

Final

0

2

3

5

0

0

2

2

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Gillian Apps (Hooking) 10:11
CAN – Kelly Bechard (Tripping) 15:13
CAN – Cherie Piper (Hooking) 17:28
ROY – Chris Perkin (Body Checking) 17:51

Goals/Buts :
CAN – Caroline Ouellette (Marie-Philip Poulin, Jennifer Botterill) 9:22
CAN – Hayley Wickenheiser 17:57

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Hayley Wickenheiser (Hooking) 1:28
CAN – Tessa Bonhomme (Slashing) 17:40

Goals/Buts :
ROY – Alex Grieve (Patrick McNaught) 6:25
CAN – Hayley Wickenheiser (Meaghan Mikkelson, Charline Labonté) 7:07
CAN – Kelly Bechard (Hayley Wickenheiser, Sabrina Harbec) 7:35
ROY – Matt Marantz (Zack Wildman) 12:09
CAN – Hayley Wickenheiser (Kelly Bechard) 19:19

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Ashley Riggs (Hooking) 4:04
ROY – Pat Pinder (Hooking) 5:58
CAN – Sabrina Harbec (Hooking) 10:37
CAN – Carla MacLeod (Holding) 12:20