LAKE PLACID, NY – Canada’s National Women’s Team suffered a 3-2 shootout loss to the U.S. in the 2008 4 Nations Cup title game on Sunday in Lake Placid, NY. It marked the ninth time that the two international rivals have resolved an international contest in a shootout, with U.S. now holding a 5-4 advantage, having won five shootouts and Canada coming out on top in four shootouts.

After a scoreless overtime, the teams went seven rounds into a shootout before deciding on a winner. Both Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, QC/ Montreal, CWHL) and Sarah Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC/ Harvard, ECAC) hit the post for Canada, but the U.S. survived to register the winner in the final round, a goal by Erica McKenzie.

Canada’s goals were scored by Ouellette and Jayna Hefford (Kingston, ON/ Brampton, CWHL), while Charline Labonté made 38 saves. The U.S. goals were scored by Natalie Darwitz and Julie Chu.

Prior to this defeat at the 2008 4 Nations Cup, Canada had won four consecutive 4 Nations Cups, from 20 inclusively. Overall, Canada has now won ten of the thirteen Nations Cup events that have been held since 1996.

NOTE TO MEDIA: The team members, players and staff, are traveling Sunday, returning to their respective club teams or hometowns on Sunday evening or Monday morning. Direct any interview requests to André Brin, Hockey Canada’s senior manager of media relations/broadcast, who will coordinate interviews around the team’s travel schedule. He can be reached at [email protected] or (403) 540-8444.

Canada’s National Women’s Team will next convene in January 2009 for a training camp. Details will be announced at a later date.

During the 2008-09 season, Canada’s National Women’s Team will assemble on several occasions, with a number of different rosters, as the coaching staff uses these opportunities to evaluate players for future international events, such as the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championship and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Head coach Melody Davidson will name Canada’s final roster of 21 players (not including alternates) for the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championship by mid-March 2009.