LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Canada’s National Women’s Team has won the gold medal at the 2013 4 Nations Cup, beating Finland 6-3 in Saturday’s gold medal game at Herb Brooks Arena in the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

This marks the 13th time Canada has won the gold medal at the tournament, joining 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. This is Finland’s second silver medal after winning its first in 2001.

Canada started strong, outshooting Finland 19-5 and taking a 4-1 lead after one period. Jenelle Kohanchuk (Winnipeg, Man./Boston University, HE), Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, Ont./Brampton, CWHL), Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) and Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) all scored goals in the opening 20 minutes. Kohanchuk added a second goal in the third period, and Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Montreal, CWHL) capped it off by scoring into an empty net after the Finns had pulled to within two.

Canada finished in first place during the preliminary round, defeating Finland 3-1 on Tuesday, the United States 4-2 on Wednesday and Sweden 4-3 on Friday. Finland finished second, while the U.S. was third and Sweden settled for fourth place.

In Saturday’s bronze medal game, the U.S. beat Sweden 8-1. It is the first time the Americans have won the bronze medal at the 4 Nations Cup.

In addition to its 13 gold medals, Canada has won five silver medals at the 3 Nations/4 Nations Cup since the tournament’s 1996 inception. Canada’s last gold medal was at the 2010 4 Nations Cup, with a 3-2 overtime win over the  U.S. in St. John’s, N.L. 

Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2013 4 Nations Cup included:

• 15 members of Canada’s National Women’s Team that won silver at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Ottawa, Ont. (Agosta, Apps, Birchard, Bram, Hefford, Irwin, Jenner, Johnston, Labonté, Lacasse, Larocque, Spooner, Szabados, Wakefield and Ward);

• eight members of Canada’s gold medal-winning team from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. (Agosta, Apps, Hefford, Irwin, Johnston, Labonté, Szabados, and Ward);

• 17 players who represented Canada at the 2012 4 Nations Cup in Tikkurila, Finland (Agosta, Apps, Bendus, Birchard, Bram, Hefford, Irwin, Jenner, Johnston, Labonté, Lacasse, Larocque, Spooner, Szabados, Wakefield, Ward and Watchorn).

The 2013 4 Nations Cup served as an evaluation opportunity for Canada’s National Women’s Team coaching staff and Hockey Canada scouting staff for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games

NOTE TO MEDIA: Francis Dupont, Hockey Canada’s manager of media relations, has been on site at the 2013 4 Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y. He will be handling all interview requests and can be reached at [email protected].