2011-12 National Women's Team

WICKENHEISER LEADS CANADA TO 4-1 WIN OVER SWEDEN IN PRE-4 NATIONS CUP EXHIBITION ACTION

VALLENTUNA, Sweden - Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, Sask./University of Calgary, CIS) scored twice to lead Canada to a 4-1 victory over Sweden in a tune-up game Monday ahead of the 4 Nations Cup women's hockey tournament.

The star forward scored a power play goal late in the second period and added an insurance goal early in the third period.

Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, Que./Montreal, CWHL) opened the scoring less than four minutes into the game at Vallentuna Ishall Arena. Sweden’s Emma Eliasson tied it a few minutes later with a power play goal on Canadian netminder Charline Labonté  (Boisbriand, Que).

Jayna Hefford (Kingston, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) beat Swedish netminder Kim Martin late in the first period to restore Canada's lead.
Canada opens the annual 4 Nations Cup tournament Wednesday against Finland at the Stora Hallen Arena in Nyköping, Sweden. The medal games are set for Sunday.

Wickenheiser, Ouellette and Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC), shone as a forward line Monday, according to Canada’s National Women’s Team head coach Dan Church.

“They were a force to be reckoned with all game, created chances off the rush and in the zone and on the power play,'' Church said. “Wick played very, very well.”

Martin finished with 47 saves. Labonté and fellow Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta./Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, ACAC) split duties between the posts and faced a combined 17 shots.

“Not a lot of shots, although Sweden had a lot more chances in the first period and got a power play goal against Charlie,'' Church said.
Ouellette wasn't on Canada's original roster because of a lower-body injury, but she recovered in time for the tournament.

She replaced forward Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Boston University, HE). Poulin was named to the initial 4 Nations Cup roster, but was scratched because of an upper-body injury she suffered while playing for her NCAA Division 1 university team.

“Caro healed faster than what was anticipated,” Church said. “She had a strong game, was one of our top players in the game and was an impact player pretty much every shift she played. “

“It's fortunate we were able to add a player of her experience and talent for a young player like Poulin, (but) we would have loved to have her here as well.”

Canada has won 12 gold and three silver medals since the tournament's inception in 1996.

Canada won its second straight gold last year by edging the United States 3-2 in overtime in St. John's, N.L.

» Game Notes

Goals/Buts : 
03:53 CAN Caroline Ouellette (Lauriane Rougeau)
07:28 SWE Emma Eliasson (Frida Nevalainen, Rebecca Stenberg) PP/AN
15:13 CAN Jayna Hefford (Mélodie Daoust, Hayley Wickenheiser)
 

Penalties/Pénalités : 
06:36 CAN Caroline Ouellette (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
08:52 SWE Michelle Löwenhielm (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
09:54 SWE Danijela Rundqvist (Roughing/Rudesse)
17:44 CAN Brianne Jenner (Hooking /Accrocher)
18:32 CAN Rebecca Johnston (Hooking /Accrocher)

Goals/Buts : 
15:15 CAN Hayley Wickenheiser (Meghan Agosta, Jocelyne Larocque) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
05:14 CAN Team (Too Many Men/Trop de joueurs)
14:17 SWE Gizela Blom (Tripping/Faire trébuche)
17:40 SWE Team (Too Many Men/Trop de joueurs)

Goals/Buts : 
03:20 CAN Hayley Wickenheiser (Brianne Jenner)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
10:55 SWE Elin Holmlöv (Hooking /Accrocher)
18:13 CAN Mélodie Daoust (Slashing/Coup de bâton)