2006-07 National Women's Team

Jayna Hefford (Kingston, ON) scored early in the third period to make a game of it, but Canada’s National Women’s Team couldn’t overcome a two-goal deficit and lost 7-3 to the Calgary Royals midget AAA team in exhibition hockey action on Monday night at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary.

Hefford’s goal at 4:02 of the third – scored on Calgary’s Steven Stanford – made it 5-3 Calgary. And just when it appeared Team Canada had the momentum, Branden Gracel scored on Canada’s Charline Labonté (Boisbriand, QC) to ice the victory for the Royals. Gracel put in his second of the period at 17:58 to end the scoring. Gracel finished with a hat trick.

The Royals outshot Canada 31-26.

Canada trailed 3-0 after the first period but got back into the game with two goals in 35 seconds early in the second.

First, Danielle Goyette (St-Nazaire, QC) beat Calgary’s Scott Hurd to make it 3-1, a goal that was set up by Lara Perks (Trenton, ON). Then, Kelly Béchard (Sedley, SK) sent a cross-ice pass to Canada’s captain, Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, SK), who cut to the net from the left side and scored to make it 3-2.

Calgary regained its three-goal lead with goals from Dylan Trumble and Gracel. Both teams switched goaltenders at the midpoint of the game, with Sami Jo Small (Winnipeg, MB) coming in for Canada, and Steven Stanford replacing Scott Hurd in the Royals’ net.

The Royals got off to a quick start when John McAllister snapped a rocket, top shelf, that beat Small. The goal, at 1:48, was set up by Patrick McNaught and Matt Brown.

Canada had a chance to get back in the game at 7:11, when Wickenheiser was hit by Calgary’s Chris Perkin, who was hit with a minor penalty for body checking. But it was Calgary who scored during Team Canada’s power play, as Alex Grieve sniped his first of the game.

The Royals made it 3-0 at the 13:09 mark. Joe Babey’s low point shot beat a screened Small. Perkin picked up the lone assist.

Canada returns to the ice on Tuesday night, as it faces the Calgary Northstars midget AAA team. The game goes at 6:30 p.m., at Father David Bauer Arena.