2012-13 National Women's Team

Sweden 0 - Canada 9

CANADA’S NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM CRUSHES SWEDEN AT 2012 4 NATIONS CUP

TIKKURILA, Finland  -- Canada’s National Women’s Team will enter the championship game at the 2012 4 Nations Cup on a high after closing out an undefeated round robin with a 9-0 rout of Sweden on Friday at Valtti Areena.

Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) and Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) scored two goals apiece and Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta./Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, ACAC) made 27 saves to help Canada post its third straight victory.

“It’s always nice when you score a bunch of goals,” head coach Dan Church said. “It gives the forwards some confidence. I think on the back end, it was a good performance by our (defence) and goalie to get the shutout.

“Overall, a great way to head into tomorrow.”

Canada will play the United States in the title match while Sweden and Finland play for bronze.

Gillian Apps (Unionville, Ont./Brampton, CWHL), Catherine Ward (Montreal, Que./Montreal, CWHL), Jayna Hefford (Kingston, Ont./Brampton, CWHL), Tessa Bonhomme (Sudbury, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) and Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, Ont,/Brampton, CWHL) also scored as Canada fired 64 shots on the Swedish net. Canada has outscored the opposition 18-1 over the three games.

The Canadian roster includes almost all the players from the team that won gold at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship last spring. Canada beat the Americans 5-4 in overtime in the championship game.

Church likes that his team is playing with confidence.

“I think the players have really battled hard,” he said. “Just the consistency in their approach to the little details in the game I think has made a big difference for us.

“Things like our physical play, backchecking and just the commitment by everybody to play for their role in whatever role they’re given for that game. I think they’ve all done a great job of that.”

Canada last won the Four Nations Cup in 2010, defeating the Americans 3-2 in overtime in St. John’s, N.L. The United States beat Canada 4-3 in a shootout in last year’s final in Nyköping, Sweden.

“I think the players are ready. They’re ready for the challenge of regaining the gold medal at this tournament,” Church said.

Canada has won this event 12 times over its 16-year history. The tournament also serves as an evaluation opportunity for team brass ahead of the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Ottawa this April.


Game Information
Game # 5
Round Round Robin
Arena Valtti Areena
Location Tikkurila, FIN
Date 11/09/2012
Time 09:00 AM ET

 

Box Score 1 2 3 Total
SWE
0 0 0 0
CAN
2 3 4 9


Goals & Penalties
First Period
Goals:
   04:02 CAN 9 Jennifer Wakefield (21 Haley Irwin)
   16:16 CAN 10 Gillian Apps (22 Hayley Wickenheiser)


Penalties:
   04:40 CAN 17 Bailey Bram (Interference)
   19:36 SWE 4 Jenni Asserholt (Hooking)


Second Period
Goals:
   00:38 CAN 19 Brianne Jenner (18 Catherine Ward, 6 Rebecca Johnston) PP
   06:24 CAN 24 Natalie Spooner (21 Haley Irwin)
   14:23 CAN 16 Jayna Hefford (11 Courtney Birchard) SH


Penalties:
   06:56 CAN 3 Jocelyne Larocque (Roughing)
   08:53 SWE 22 Emma Eliasson (Hooking)
   13:02 CAN 18 Catherine Ward (Roughing)


Third Period
Goals:
   03:17 CAN 9 Jennifer Wakefield 
   04:14 CAN 25 Tessa Bonhomme (19 Brianne Jenner, 28 Vicki Bendus)
   06:57 CAN 28 Vicki Bendus (6 Rebecca Johnston)
   19:21 CAN 24 Natalie Spooner (27 Tara Watchorn, 22 Hayley Wickenheiser)


Penalties:
   01:15 CAN 6 Rebecca Johnston (Roughing)
   08:30 CAN 13 Caroline Ouellette (Bodychecking)
   08:30 SWE 6 Lina Backlin (Roughing)
   11:33 CAN 14 Bobbi Jo Slusar (Tripping)


 

Goaltenders
SWE
1 Sara Grahn On 1/00:00
Off 3/20:00
CAN
1 Shannon Szabados On 1/00:00
Off 3/20:00

 

Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
SWE
9 8 10 27
CAN
20 22 22 64

 

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