2008-09 National Women's Team

FOUR-GOAL FIRST PERIOD LEADS CANADA WHITE TO WIN OVER BISONS

Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, ON/University of New Hampshire, HE) scored twice and Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, ON/Ohio State University, WCHA) added a goal and an assist, all of it coming in a four-goal first period, as Canada White topped the UFA Bisons Midget AAA boys team 5-4 in the opening game for both on Thursday night at the National Women’s Team evaluation camp in Calgary.

Canada White was able to pick up the win despite being outshot 29-27, and despite a late charge from the Bisons, who pulled to within a goal with less than 30 seconds to go and came within inches of tying the game in the dying seconds.

It was Spooner who got Canada White going just 3:31 in, taking a pass from Ann-Sophie Bettez (Sept-Îles, QC/McGill University, CIS) in her own zone before undressing both the UFA defenseman and goaltender George Merik for a highlight-reel-worthy end-to-end goal.

After Jesse Koch had pulled the Bisons even the Canada White powerplay went to work, as Sarah Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC/Harvard University, ECAC) finished off a give-and-go with Dominique Thibault (L’Orignal, ON/University of Connecticut, HE), roofing a shot over Merik to restore the one-goal lead.

Again UFA pulled even, and again Canada White struck right back within minutes. This time is was Wakefield who scored the goal, converting on another man advantage. She scored her second with just 12 seconds left in the period, pushing the puck over the goal line after Spooner’s shot had snuck through Merik.

Canada White’s offence was clicking in the first 20 minutes, scoring four times on just eight shots.

The firewagon hockey was absent in the second period, as it took close to half the period for UFA to score the frame’s first goal. Nolan Marshall took a pass in the slot from Ty Rattie, the second overall selection in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft, and beat Canada White netminder Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, AB/Grant MacEwan College, ACAC) through the five-hole to again cut the White lead to a single goal.

Laura Fridfinnson (Arborg, MB/University of Minnesota-Duluth, WCHA) rounded out the scoring in the second period, and picked up the eventual game-winning goal, by beating Merik from the slot through the five-hole after defenseman Annie Guay (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Montreal Stars, CWHL) had pinched in from her position on the blueline to keep the puck alive.

The Bisons came out firing in the third period, outshooting Canada White 11-7, but it took until the 19:42 mark of the period for a puck to beat Szabados, as Alexander Colborne picked up a loose puck in the slot and beat the Canada White ‘tender low to the blocker side.

UFA continued to pressure in the final seconds, swarming the Canada White net, but could not produce the game-tying goal.

Canada White returns to the ice at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena on Friday night when they face Canada Red at 8 p.m. MDT, while the Bisons will face the other Midget AAA at the camp, the Calgary Flames, at 4:30 p.m. MDT.

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Final

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Goals/Buts :
03:31 WHT Natalie Spooner (Ann-Sophie Bettez)
10:37 UFA Jesse Koch (Andrew Bergmann)
13:23 WHT Sarah Vaillancourt (Dominique Thibault) PP
15:10 UFA Ty Rattie (Nolan Marshall)
16:53 WHT Jennifer Wakefield PP
19:48 WHT Jennifer Wakefield 2 (Natalie Spooner, Annie Guay)

Penalties/Pénalités :
06:18 WHT Meaghan Mikkelson (Cross-checking)
11:50 UFA Dylan Schellenberg (Interference)
16:32 UFA Caylen Walls (Holding)

Goals/Buts :
09:44 UFA Nolan Marshall (Ty Rattie, Steven Phee)
17:08 WHT Laura Fridfinnson (Annie Guay)

Penalties/Pénalités :
11:57 UFA Kris Keller (Slashing)
12:40 WHT Caroline Ouellette (Slashing)
15:33 UFA Kyle Knelsen (Interference)
16:41 WHT Haley Irwin (Hooking)
18:57 UFA Steven Soto (Slashing)

Goals/Buts :
19:42 UFA Alexander Colborne (Steven Phee)

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:32 WHT Vicki Bendus (Holding the Stick)
00:41 WHT Bobbi Jo Slusar (High-sticking)
04:37 UFA Dylan Schellenberg (Body-checking)
12:32 UFA Kyle Knelsen (Hooking)
19:52 WHT Haley Irwin (Interference)