2002-03 National Women's Team

Game Notes

Players of the Game:
CAN - Kim St-Pierre
FIN - Saija Sirvio

Canada's National Women's Team finished the round robin portion of the 2002 4 Nations Cup with a 3-1 win over Finland on Saturday night. 2,351 fans looked on as Canada improved to 3-0 and advanced to Sunday's gold medal final.

Canada opened the scoring in the first period when Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, PQ) took a cross crease pass from Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, PQ) at the 5:16 mark and slid it past Finnish goaltender Heidi Wiik. Meagan Walton recorded the second assist on Kingsbury's goal, earning her first ever National Women's Team point.

Finland would tie the game shortly after on a power play goal by Sari Fisk at the 9:46 mark. Fisk took a pass in the slot from Riikka Nieminen-Valila and fired a low shot under the glove of Canadian goaltender Kim St-Pierre (Châteauguay, PQ).

Canada would regain their lead at the 14:36 mark as Colleen Sostorics (Kennedy, SK) blasted a shot from the point through a crowd and beat Wiik. The goal was Sostorics first of the tournament. Just over a minute later, Dana Antal (Esterhazy, SK) broke down the right side and let go a wrist shot right along the ice which eluded Wiik. Cathy Chartrand (Lac Nominingue, PQ) picked up her second point of the tournament with the assist. Canada outshot Finland 9-5 in the first period and took a 3-1 lead into the second.

Defence took over in the second period as neither team allowed a goal. Canadian puck stopper St-Pierre was called upon only four times where as her counterpart Wiik was forced to make 21 saves. About the only highlight of the period was during the intermission as one young Team Canada fan won an autographed jersey by shooting a puck from centre ice through a small opening in the net. It was one of the loudest ovations of the night.

In the final frame, neither team could muster a goal as defence was once again a force. Canada had numerous chances but couldn't seem to solve Wiik.

St-Pierre recorded the win for Canada, making 10 saves while Wiik took the loss, stopping 43 Team Canada shots.

Canada will face USA in Sunday's gold medal game at 4:00pm (EST) at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. TSN, RDS and WTSN are broadcasting the gold medal final of the 2002 Four Nations Cup, which will be live on WTSN and tape delayed on TSN/RDS on Monday, November 11, 2002 (the next day) at 7:00pm (EST), 4:00pm (PST).

GAME SUMMARY