QUICK START LEADS CANADA TO MLP GOLD

RAVENSBURG, Germany – Jessica Wong (Baddeck, N.S./University of Minnesota-Duluth, WCHA) and Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Ohio State University, WCHA) each scored twice and Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, Ont./Mercyhurst College, CHA) and Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Canada’s National Women’s Team) added a goal and two assists apiece as Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team regained its MLP Cup gold medal with a 9-0 win over Switzerland on Saturday.

Canada had won the first six editions of the tournament, from 2003 to 2008, before settling for silver last year after a gold medal game loss to Sweden. Canada got its revenge on the Scandinavians Friday, earning a 4-3 overtime win in the semifinal.

The Canadians jumped on the Swiss early on Saturday, with Wong scoring her first goal of the tournament just 2:38 after the opening face-off. The power play then went to work, with Mercyhurst College teammates Bendus and Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, Man./Mercyhurst College, CHA) both scoring with the man advantage for a 3-0 lead.

Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Canada’s National Women’s Team) capped off a big first period by finishing off a 2-on-1 with Carolyne Prevost (Sarnia, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) in the period’s dying seconds, sending Canada to the intermission with a commanding 4-0 lead.

Despite a goaltending change by the Swiss after 20 minutes, the offensive onslaught continued for Canada in period two. Jesse Scanzano (Montreal, Que./Mercyhurst College, CHA) converted a Bendus pass for the 5-0 goal, and Spooner buried a breakaway opportunity for her first goal just 67 seconds later.

Wong and Spooner notched their second goals in a five-minute span midway through the period for an 8-0 lead, and Wakefield rounded out the scoring spree late in the frame by shrugging off two Swiss defenders and scoring her only goal of the tournament.

With the only question in the third period whether or not Christina Kessler (Mississauga, Ont./Harvard University, ECAC) would get the shutout, the Canadian netminder turned away everything she faced, wrapping up her third win in as many tries at the tournament and recording her fourth career U22 shutout, tying Laura Hosier (Sharon, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) for the most all-time.

Bendus, who tied Bram, Sweden’s Isabelle Jordansson and Switzerland’s Christine Meier for the tournament scoring lead with seven points, was named the tournament’s top forward, while Germany’s Jennifer Harss was named top goaltender and Meier took home top defenceman honours.

Goals/Buts :
02:38 CAN Jessica Wong (Catherine White Emmanuelle Blais)
04:11 CAN Vicki Bendus PP/AN
18:04 CAN Bailey Bram (Jesse Scanzano) PP/AN
19:51 CAN Brianne Jenner (Carolyne Prevost)

Penalties/Pénalités :
03:21 SUI Darcia Leimgruber (Hooking/Accrocher)
08:16 CAN Annie Guay (Holding/Retenir)
12:01 CAN Jesse Scanzano (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
14:35 SUI Sandra Thalmann (Interference/Obstruction)
17:29 SUI Bench/Banc (Too Many Players/Trop du joueuses)

Goals/Buts :
05:23 CAN Jesse Scanzano (Vicki Bendus, Bailey Bram)
06:30 CAN Natalie Spooner (Jenelle Kohanchuk, Jennifer Wakefield)
10:17 CAN Jessica Wong (Vicki Bendus, Catherine White)
15:20 CAN Natalie Spooner (Jennifer Wakefield, Jenelle Kohanchuk)
18:51 CAN Jennifer Wakefield

Penalties/Pénalités :
10:48 SUI Lucrece Nussbaum (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
05:55 SUI Darcia Leimgruber (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
09:59 CAN Jesse Scanzano (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
13:21 CAN Natalie Spooner (Interference/Obstruction)
14:59 CAN Tara Watchorn (Cross-checking/Double-échec)