2011-12 National Women's Team

Canada 3 - United States 1
 

NWT VETERANS LEAD CANADA TO 3-1 VICTORY OVER UNITED STATES AT 2011 4 NATIONS CUP

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NYKÖPING, Sweden - Hayley Wickenheiser scored the game-winning goal for Canada in a 3-1 victory over the United States on Thursday at the 2011 4 Nations Cup women's hockey tournament.  The matchup was a historic one, marking the 100th time since 1990 that the two women’s hockey rivals have faced off against each other.

Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, Sask.) beat American goalie Jesse Vetter midway through the third period, taking a low wrist shot from the slot, to help Canada record its second straight win at Stora Hallen arena. Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, Que.) sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the dying seconds.

Head coach Dan Church said his team was rewarded for playing with a heightened intensity.

“I think that was the difference in the game,” Church said. “It was just our commitment to winning those physical confrontations.”

After a scoreless 20 minutes, Jayna Hefford (Kingston, Ont.) got Canada on the board early in the second period. Jocelyne Lamoureux scored a short-handed goal for the Americans to tie it up at 1-1.

Canada opened the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Finland on Wednesday, and wraps up preliminary round play against host Sweden on Saturday.

“It's great to win Round 1 against the U.S.,” Church said. “I fully expect that we'll be playing them in the final on Sunday.”

Canadian goaltender Charline Labonte (Boisbriand, Que.) made 34 saves for the win.

“We got off to a good start and we didn't really give them too much,” Wickenheiser said. “I think it was a nice first game (against the U.S.) for us, with a pretty young group of defencemen and a young team overall.”

Vetter made 24 saves in the meeting between the top two women’s teams in the world. Canada has a 61-38-1 edge.

“It was a disappointing loss, but our kids played hard,” said U.S. head coach Katey Stone. “We learned a lot tonight and we'll be ready to go on Saturday (against Finland).”

Canada has won 12 gold and three silver medals in 4 Nations Cup and 3 Nations Cup events since the first tournament was played in 1996.

 

Game Information
Game Number 3 Round Round Robin
Arena Stora Hallen City, Country Nyköping, SWE
Month / Day / Year 11/10/2011 Time 09:30 AM ET
Attendance Game Status Final

Box Score   1     2     3   Total
Canada (CAN) 0 1 2 3
United States (USA) 0 1 0 1

Goals/Penalties
First Period
Goals:
   None

Penalties:
   03:05 CAN 11 Courtney Birchard (Holding)
   05:30 CAN 27 Jesse Scanzano (Hooking)
   09:03 USA 5 Karen Thatcher (Hooking)
   18:50 CAN 2 Meghan Agosta (Bodychecking)

Second Period
Goals:
   05:40 CAN 16 Jayna Hefford (2 Meghan Agosta, 20 Jennifer Wakefield)
   19:05 USA 17 Jocelyne Lamoureux (9 Molly Engstrom) SH

Penalties:
   08:31 USA 5 Karen Thatcher (Interference)
   10:09 USA 21 Hilary Knight (Holding)
   18:00 USA 19 Gigi Marvin (Slashing)

Third Period
Goals:
   09:58 CAN 22 Hayley Wickenheiser (14 Bobbi Jo Slusar, 24 Natalie Spooner)
   19:48 CAN 13 Caroline Ouellette (22 Hayley Wickenheiser, 4 Stefanie McKeough)

Penalties:
   03:38 CAN 11 Courtney Birchard (Tripping)
   11:24 USA 10 Meghan Duggan (Tripping)
   15:18 CAN 22 Hayley Wickenheiser (Hooking)


Goaltenders
Canada
32 Charline Labonté On 1/00:00 Off 3/20:00
United States
31 Jessie Vetter On 1/00:00 Off 3/15:00
31 Jessie Vetter On 3/15:18 Off 3/18:47

Shots on Goal   1     2     3   Total
Canada 6 10 8 24
United States 9 7 18 34

» Game notes (pdf)