CANADA WINS OPENER AT MLP CUP

RAVENSBURG, Germany – Christina Kessler (Mississauga, Ont./Harvard University, ECAC) stopped 11 shots and Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Ohio State University, WCHA) and Mallory Deluce (London, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) had a goal and an assist each as Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team kicked off the 2010 MLP Cup with a 4-1 win over Switzerland on Tuesday.

Despite missing three forwards because their equipment has yet to make its way across the Atlantic, Canada outshot the Swiss 35-12. The final margin of victory would have been wider had the Canadians had any success on the power play – Canada was scoreless on 12 chances on the man advantage, compared to just four for Switzerland.

Spooner and Deluce combined on Canada’s first two goals, with Spooner scoring less than two minutes into the game and Deluce doubling the lead early in the second period, tucking a rebound past Swiss netminder Florence Schelling.

Switzerland finally beat Kessler on a shorthanded effort just past the 12-minute mark of the second period, but Canadian captain Annie Guay (Rouyn-Noranda, Que./Montreal, CWHL) blasted a point shot past Schelling just 24 seconds later to restore the three-goal lead.

The Swiss swarmed the Canadian goal in the second half of the middle frame – including an 81-second 5-on-3 – but Kessler stood tall and kept Canada up by three after 40 minutes.

Canada’s victory was sealed with a final goal from Catherine White (Brampton, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC), who tucked a backhand around Schelling after good work down the wing from Ann-Sophie Bettez (Sept-Îles, Que./McGill University, CIS), who finished with two assists in the win.

Canada continues the 2010 MLP Cup on Thursday when it takes on the host Germans (2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT).

Goals/Buts :
01:39 CAN Natalie Spooner (Mallory Deluce)
Penalties/Pénalités :
04:07 SUI Laura Ruhnke (Interference/Obstruction)
05:10 SUI Julia Marty (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
05:59 SUI Kathrin Lehmann (Hooking/Accrocher)
11:00 SUI Lucrece Nussbaum (Hooking/Accrocher)
13:48 CAN Lauriane Rougeau (Elbowing/Donner du coude)
14:27 CAN Stephanie Ramsay (Delay of Game/Retarder le match)
15:48 CAN Jocelyne Larocque (Roughing/Rudesse)
15:48 SUI Kathrin Lehmann (Roughing/Rudesse)
16:20 CAN Jennifer Wakefield (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)

Goals/Buts :
01:58 CAN Mallory Deluce (Ann-Sophie Bettez)
12:23 SUI Nicole Bullo (Christine Meier) SH/DN
12:47 CAN Annie Guay (Natalie Spooner, Carolyne Prevost)
Penalties/Pénalités :
03:03 SUI Julia Marty (Roughing/Rudesse)
03:03 SUI Julia Marty (Misconduct/Inconduite)
06:59 SUI Stefanie Wyss (Hooking/Accrocher)
10:24 SUI Stefanie Wyss (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
10:56 CAN Mallory Deluce (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)
11:58 SUI Melanie Häfliger (Hooking/Accrocher)
13:10 SUI Darcia Leimgruber (Hooking/Accrocher)
19:57 CAN Jennifer Wakefield (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)

Goals/Buts :
08:03 CAN Catherine White (Ann-Sophie Bettez, Jocelyne Larocque)
Penalties/Pénalités :
00:56 SUI Christine Meier (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
10:57 SUI Lucrece Nussbaum (Hooking/Accrocher)