2008-09 National Women's Team

SWEDEN SCORES HISTORIC FIRST WIN OVER CANADA AT 4 NATIONS

Lake Placid, NY – Sweden made history on Friday night in Lake Placid, scoring its first ever victory over Canada in women’s hockey, a 2-1 overtime thriller. The game had no bearing on Canada’s spot in the final at the 4 Nations Cup, a spot that it secured on the strength of a 4-2 win over the U.S. on Thursday.

Team Sweden certainly didn’t look like a team looking for its first 4 Nations win on Friday night. Playing an energetic and relentless style, the Swedes held the Canadians to only eight shots in the opening period. Sweden had the best chance of the period early, as defenceman Jenni Asserholt intercepted a clearing attempt and had a good shot from the slot that Kim St-Pierre (Châteauguay, QC/ Montreal, CWHL) turned aside.

More of the same awaited the Canadians in the second period. Canada did take advantage of two power plays to generate its best offensive sequences of the game. Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, QC/ Montreal, CWHL) had Canada’s best chance, taking a centering pass from Hayley Wickenheiser as she crashed to the net, but Swedish netminder Sara Grahn held her ground. At 16:16 of the middle frame, Sweden’s energy paid off. On a two-man power play, Elin Holmlov found a loose puck during a mad scramble in front of the net, and fired the puck over St-Pierre. Sweden had a 1-0 lead, with one period left to play.

Canada finally evened the score mid-way through the third, as defenceman Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, AB/ Edmonton, WWHL) fired a hard shot from the point, which beat both goaltender Sara Grahn and a screen set up by Gillian Apps.

In overtime, with Sweden on a power play, Holmlov took a pass from Winberg in the slot, and one-timed the winner past St-Pierre to secure Sweden what probably amounts to its second biggest triumph in women’s hockey. In 2006, Sweden stunned the U.S. in the Olympic semi-finals to earn a spot in the gold medal game, where it eventually lost to Canada.

Canada’s National Women’s Team moves on the gold medal final on Sunday, with the game starting at 2:30 EST.

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Final

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Goals/Buts :
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Penalties/Pénalités :
8:06 CAN Gillian Apps (roughing/rudesse)
15:52 CAN Bobbi Jo Slusar (interference/obstruction)
17:44 SWE Danjela Rundqvist (bodychecking/mise en échec)

Goals/Buts :
16:16 SWE Elin Holmlov (Pernilla Winberg, Chanette Svensson) PP2

Penalties/Pénalités :
2:45 SWE Jenni Asserholt (crosschecking/double échec)
7:13 SWE Emma Eliasson (bodychecking/ mise en échec)
15:03 CAN Hayley Wickenheiser (hooking/ avoir accrocher)
15:52 CAN Bobby Jo Slusar (interference/obstruction)

Goals/Buts :
8:53 CAN Meaghan Mikkelson (Hayley Wickenheiser) EQ

Penalties/Pénalités :
4:59 SWE Maria Rooth (bodychecking/mise en échec)
11:38 SWE Isabelle Jordansson (hooking/avoir accrocher)
16:52 CAN Meghan Agosta (hooking/avoir accrocher)
18:12 CAN Jocelyne Larocque (hooking/avoir accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
3:41 SWE Elin Holmlov (Pernilla Winberg) PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
2:56 CAN Gillian Apps (roughing/rudesse)

SWE

1 Sara Grahn

CAN

33 Kim St-Pierre

Kate Connolly

Tara Leighton, Adrianna Sable