2017-18 National Women's Team

WAKEFIELD HAT TRICK HELPS CANADA SHUT OUT SWEDES

JEMMA YOUNG

TAMPA, Fla. – Canada’s National Women’s Team leveraged its offensive prowess, getting a hat trick from Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Linköping HC, SWE) to overtake Sweden 9-0 in the 2017 4 Nations Cup tournament-opener Tuesday afternoon.

Wakefield led the way with two even-strength goals in the second period and one on the power play with 3:32 remaining in the third, and earned an assist in the final stanza for good measure.

Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL) also contributed four points with a goal and three helpers, including an assist on the Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.) opening goal, which was off a rebound of a Poulin blast 11:52 into the first period.

Despite a strong first period — and 16 shots on net — Canada only led by one heading into the intermission.

The tide would turn in the second, and the speed of the Canadian forecheck would spark a scoring spree; goals from Poulin, Wakefield (twice) and Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) made it a 6-0 game after 40 minutes.

A pair of young guns, Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./University of Minnesota, WCHA) and Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), would add two to the Canadian lead in the third before Wakefield finished her hat trick with less than five minutes to go.

Brigette Lacquette (Mallard, Man./Calgary, CWHL) joined Wakefield and Poulin with four points, earning a quartet of assists. Overall, 11 players contributed points in the win.

Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) wasn’t busy, facing just nine shots, but kept focus to secure the shutout. Her Swedish counterpart, Lovisa Berndtsson, posted 32 saves in a losing cause.

Canada will face the United States on Wednesday at Florida Hospital Center Ice (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT).