Martlet duo help Canada beat Finland in Germany
By Earl Zukerman
RAVENSBURG, GERMANY – McGill rearguard Catherine Ward of Mt. Royal,
Que., converted a pass from Martlet teammate Ann-Sophie Bettez as
Canada’s national women’s under-22 team opened defence of its MLP
Nations Cup title with a 3-0 win over Finland on Friday at the
Eissporthalle in Ravensburg, Germany.
Canada’s top line of Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, ON/Mercyhurst College,
CHA), Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, ON/Cornell University, ECAC) and
Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, ON/University of Minnesota-Duluth, WCHA)
combined for six points as the Canadians won for the 20th time in
21 games all-time at the tournament – it was known as the Air
Canada Cup for the first six years of its existence, and Canada
took home the top prize every time.
After a scoreless first period, the Canadians finally struck almost
14 minutes into the middle frame when Agosta beat Finnish netminder
Anna-Kaisa Piironen, with help from Johnston and Irwin.
Catherine Ward (Montreal, QC/Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, CIS) scored early
in the second period to double the lead and Agosta rounded out the
scoring late in the game, again set up by Johnston and Irwin.
Liz Knox (Stouffville, ON/Wilfrid Laurier University, CIS) picked
up the shutout between the pipes for Canada, turning aside all 16
shots she faced. The Canadians outshot the Finns 25-16
overall.
Canada wraps up a short round robin when it faces Russia on Sunday
(10 a.m. EST).
SCORING SUMMARY
MLP Nations Cup @ Ravensburg, GER
Fri. Jan. 2, 2009 @ Ravensburg Arena
FIRST PERIOD:
Scoring:
(none)
Penalties:
CAN Laura Fridfinnson (Holding), 8:20
CAN Courtney Birchard (Hooking), 9:44
FIN Minnamari Tuominen (Tripping), 13:13
FIN Vilma Tarvainen (Tripping), 18:56
SECOND PERIOD:
Scoring:
1. CAN Meghan Agosta (Rebecca Johnston, Haley Irwin), 13:28
Penalties:
CAN Mallory Deluce (Hooking), 3:32
CAN Lauriane Rougeau (Interference), 6:43
THIRD PERIOD:
Scoring:
2. CAN Catherine Ward (Ann-Sophie Bettez), 4:57
3. CAN Meghan Agosta (Rebecca Johnston, Haley Irwin), 16:50
Penalties:
CAN Lauriane Rougeau (Interference), 6:31
FIN Saija Sirviö (Interference), 13:40
Goaltenders
CAN Liz Knox
FIN Anna-Kaisa Piiroinen
SHOTS BY PERIOD:
CAN 9 8 8 -- 25
FIN 4 6 6 -- 16
SCORE BY PERIOD:
CAN 0 1 2 -- 3
FIN 0 0 0 -- 0
Attendance 600