Preliminary Round
April 04, 2005
Cloetta Center, Linkoping, SWE

LINKOPING, SWEDEN – Team Canada played its second game of the tournament against one of Canada’s biggest rivals, the Russians. The Canadian offense was stifled by the Russian defensive system in the first, but did manage to score one. Jayna Hefford scored from her knees as she converted on a Canadian power play for the only goal of the period.

Canada was able to score a pair of power play goals in the second, both from shots at the top of the left circle. Cheryl Pounder had the second goal for Team Canada, and Hayley Wickenheiser edged closer to the century mark as she now has 96 career goals. Canada’s Jayna Hefford scored her second of the game to give Canada a 4-0 lead. Captain Cassie Campbell stole one off a Russian defenceman and beat the netminder on a breakaway with just 7 seconds remaining in the period. Russia did have a couple of good scoring chances, but Canadian netminder Charlie Labonte, getting her first World Championship start, shut the door.

Canada’s player of the game, Caroline Ouellette, scored a goal a minute into the third to go along with four assists on the night, which ties the Canadian record for most assists in a single World Championship game. Jayna Hefford completed the hat trick with her second power play goal of the evening. Kelly Bechard added a solo effort to give Canada an 8-0 lead. Charline Labonte made a beautiful pass up to Sarah Vaillancourt during a Russian change, and Sarah blasted one by the Russian goalie for the ninth Canadian goal. Gillian Apps added her first of the tournament to get the Canadians into double digits for the second straight game. Gina Kingsbury and Cassie Campbell’s second goal closed out the scoring for Canada for a 12-0 victory.

After a day off, Canada resumes play Wednesday against Sweden at 8pm (local). This game can be seen live on TSN, check your local listing for details

Canada 13 Kazakhstan 0

Preliminary Round
April 03, 2005
Cloetta Center, Linkoping, SWE

LINKOPING, SWEDEN – Team Canada played its first game of the tournament against Kazakhstan on Sunday. This was only the third time these two teams have faced each other, with Canada winning the previous two handily.

Canada opened the scoring on a goal by Hayley Wickenheiser half way through the period. Canada then converted on their second power play of the period, when Kelly Bechard ripped one from the point that beat a screened Kazakhstan netminder to put Canada up 2-0. Wickenheiser scored her second of the period on a nifty feed by rookie Sarah Vaillancourt to give the red and white a 3-0 lead. Canada continued to pour on the offense as Gina Kingsbury deflected home a Becky Kellar point shot. Canadian netminder Kim St-Pierre had a fairly lonely period as Kazakhstan was unable to produce a shot on net.

Despite being out shot 20-0 in the first period, Kazakhstan came out for the second period and tried to tighten up defensively. Canada took a tripping penalty at the end of the first period, so Kazakhstan started the period on a power play, but they were unable to convert. Caroline Ouellette scored Canada’s fifth goal as she walked out of the corner untouched, and shelved a beautiful shot past the glove hand of a helpless Kazakhstan goaltender. With Canada up on a 5-3 advantage, Cherie Piper slipped a point shot that trickle through the overworked netminder to give Canada a 6-0 lead. Rookie Sarah Vaillancourt scored her first ever World Championship goal as she went upstairs on a sprawled out goalie. Assistant captain Vicky Sunohara was able to burry one after a prolonged scramble in front of the Kazakhstan net to add to Canada’s increasing lead. The eighth goal spelled the end of the night for Natalya Trunova, and Kazakhstan brought in 15 year old Eykaterina Ryzhova to see if she could stop the bleeding. Vaillancourt gave the new goalie a rude awakening as she blasted one past the new netminder for her second of the night in her debut appearance. The final goal of the period will have historic value as Hayley Wickenheiser set up Correne Bredin which gives Wickenheiser her 200th career point.

With a 10 goal lead heading in to the final 20 minutes, Canada was focusing on puck possession and completing passes accurately. Danielle Goyette scored her first of the night to put Canada ahead 11-0 in the first 2 minutes of the third. Kazakhstan had only registered one shot on net, which happened to be an icing attempt that hit Kim St-Pierre. Cheryl Pounder and Jayna Hefford added singles as Canada completed a 13-0 victory. The line of Hayley Wickenheiser, Danielle Goyette, and first timer – Sarah Vaillancourt combined for 14 points on the night. Sarah Vaillancourt was named as Canada’s player of the game.