Chartrand scores as Canada wins gold in China
By Earl Zukerman
=============================================
(Pictured from left to right are McGill students: Vanessa Davidson,
Cathy Chartrand, Alyssa Cecere, Caroline Hill, all chomping on
their gold medals)
=============================================
HARBIN, China – McGill’s Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que.,
scored once as Canada defeated China 3-1 to capture gold in women’s
hockey at the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China,
Friday.
Canada, which featured four McGill players in their lineup, went
undefeated, posting an unblemished 7-0 record and outscoring
opponents 46-7 at the event, also known as the world university
winter games.
Chartrand, a 5-foot-10 rearguard, opened the scoring with her
second goal and seventh point of the tourney at 17:17 of the
opening period.
Despite having significant international experience for Canada
prior to the trip, Chartrand, the team captain, found herself
somewhat awestruck at game’s end.
“It’s better than anything I ever imagined it would feel like. To
win gold as a member of Team Canada is a dream come true,” said
Chartrand. “It was nice to be involved in a tight game in the
final. Some of the games in the round robin were a little lopsided,
but the final was a excellent game.”
To the delight of the raucously supportive crowd at the Harbin Ice
Hockey Gym, the Chinese evened the score at 1-1 when Jin Fengling
beat Manitoba Bisons’ netminder Stacey Corfield, anative of
Winnipeg, at 2:35 of the middle stanza. However, the joy in the
stands was short-lived.
Moments later, York’s Courtney Unruh, from Fort St. John, B.C.,
regained the lead for Canada at 7:09. Unruh’s tally stood up as the
game winner as the Canadian side made history as the first winners
of the women’s hockey event at the FISU Winter Games.
“It’s actually funny to score them in bunches like that, because
this year, I’ve actually had trouble finding the net. “said Unruh.
“It’s been a little frustrating back home because the puck just
hasn’t been going in for me, but here this week it seems everything
I do leads to a goal.”
Rayanne Reeve, a native of Stony Plain, Alta., who skates for the
Alberta Pandas, added an insurance marker at 4:32 of the final
period.
Corfield picked up her tournament leading fifth win of the
competition and was credited with 13 saves as Canada outshot China
39-14.
“It’s so cliché, but words simply don’t describe the feeling right
now,” said Corfield. ”To come together from all over the country
and compete as a team – playing the Chinese in front of the biggest
crowd any of us have ever played in front of – it’s been such a fun
experience – the culture, the hockey, everything. I couidn’t have
asked for a better time.’
GAME NOTES: The four McGill players combined to score nine goals
and 11 assists in seven games for Canada. They included Chartrand
(2-5-7), plus forwards Vanessa Davidson (4-4-8), a senior from
Kirkland, Que., Alyssa Cecere (0-2-2), a junior from Brossard,
Que., and junior Caroline Hill (3-0-3) of Dorval, Que.
Team Canada website:
2009 Winter Universiade hockey results website:
SCORING SUMMARY
Canada 3, China 1
GOLD MEDAL GAME
(FISU GAMES @ Harbin Ice Hockey Gym)
FIRST PERIOD
1. Canada: Cathy Chartrand (A. Del Guidice, K.Webster), 17:17
Penalties:
China: R. Sun (crosscheck), 0:29
Canada: V. Davidson (interference), 3:46
Canada: K. Webster (hold), 10:33
Canada: C. Unruh (hook), 17:41
SECOND PERIOD
2. China: Jin Fengling (N.Jiang, R. Sun), 2:35 (PP)
3. Canada: Courtney Unruh (M. Provost, A. Bevan), 7:09
Penalties:
Canada: A. Ironside (rough), 2:23
Canada: M. Provost (hook), 4:48
China: H. Cui (hold), 11:33
Canada: A. Ironside (hold), 12:45
Canada: A. Boras (hold), 13:00
THIRD PERIOD
4. Canada: Rayanne Reeve (M. Provost, A. Bevan), 4:32 (PP)
Penalties:
China: A. Tan (rough), 4:23
Canada: K. Webster (cross), 10:14
Canada: S. Ramsay (trip), 19:52
SHOTS BY PERIOD:
China 8 - 3 - 3 -- 14.
Canada 17 - 11 - 11 -- 39.
GOALS BY PERIOD:
China 0 - 1 - 0 -- 1
Canada 1 - 1 - 1 -- 3
POWER PLAY CONVERSIONS:
China 1 / 9;
Canada 1 / 3.
PENALTIES (No/Mins):
China 3/6;
Canada 9/18.
GOALTENDERS:
China,
Shi Yao [L, 39 shots-36 saves, 60:00];
Canada,
Stacey Corfield [W, 14 shots-13 saves, 60:00).
Start: 7:31 pm
End: 9:34 pm
Attendance: (unavailable)
Referee: Tara Leighton (USA).
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Dept. of Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
Ď㽶ĘÓƵ
475 Pine Avenue W.,
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)