2004-05 National Women's Team

Canada 3 Finland 0

Semi Final Round
April 08, 2005
Cloetta Center, Linkoping, SWE

LINKOPING, SWEDEN – Team Canada faced team Finland for the seventh time in a semi final game at the World Women’s Championship. Canada has played Finland once prior to this tournament in an exhibition game in Norrkoping on March 31, Canada won 9-2.
 
Charline Labonte got her start between the pipes for Canada at the World Championship; her first was a 12-0 victory over Russia. Although Canada carried the majority of the play, they could not convert. Finnish netminder Annakaisa Piiroinen made 6 saves in the opening period, while Canada’s Labonte only faced 2 shots and saved them both.

Canada found itself down 5 on 3 a minute into the second period, but managed to kill it off. Directly after the penalty kill, Canada came back and scored two goals just 47 seconds apart. Hayley Wickenheiser scored her 98th career goal on a missed shot that bounced off the end boards and hit the Finnish netminder in the back of the legs and in. The second goal started with a 60 foot pass from defenceman Correne Bredin up to Caroline Ouellette, she slid it over to Jayna Hefford and she buried it to put Canada up 2-0. Canada found itself down two men again, but still managed to kill it off. Canada out shot Finland 19-10, but Finland continued to pressure the Canadians forcing Labonte to come up big on a number of saves.

It tool Canada until the eleven minute mark of the third period to register its third goal of the game. Jayna Hefford walked out from behind the net and roofed a backhand shot over the shoulder of Annakaisa Piiroinen. Hefford, Canada’s player of the game, now leads the championship in scoring with 6 goals. Canada out shot the Finns 49-16, but weren’t able to put up the numbers they had in previous games, largely due to the great goaltending of Annakaisa Piiroinen. The final score (3-0) has historic importance, Canada has set an IIHF World Women’s Championship record by recording four consecutive shut out games.

Canada will face the winner of the USA vs. Sweden game in the Gold Medal Game tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm (local). This game can be seen live on TSN, check your local listing for details.