2009-10 National Women's Team

CANADA SEES THREE-GAME WINNING STREAK END WITH LOSS TO BUFFALOES

CALGARY, Alta. – In the end, a three-goal deficit was just too much for Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Down by three just nine minutes into the game, Canada pulled to within a goal after 40 minutes before ultimately dropping a 4-3 decision to the Calgary Buffaloes on Thursday night in NWT Midget Series action.

The loss ended Canada’s winning streak at three, while giving the Buffs a measure of revenge – Canada scored a 4-3 overtime win over Calgary on Oct. 13, tying the game in the final minute before winning it in the extra frame.

Early on it looked as if there would be no edge-of-your-seat finish, as the Buffaloes exploded out of gate with a trio of goals in a span of 7:23.

Tanner Marshall got Calgary on the board just 77 seconds after the opening face-off, beating Canadian netminder Charline Labonté with a backhand to the far post on the Buffaloes’ first shot of the game.

Brett Pinder made it 2-0 less than four minutes later, taking advantage of a fortuitous bounce of the end boards to double the lead, and Fabio Coppola extended it to 3-0 by blasting a point shot through a Pinder screen and past Labonté.

Canada turned to its veterans to help it climb back into the game – Jayna Hefford (Kingston, Ont.) knocked a loose puck past Calgary goaltender Richie Hubbell to get the Canadians on the board before Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, Sask.) ripped a slap shot past a surprised Hubbell in the dying seconds of the period to cut the Buffaloes’ lead to one heading into the intermission.

Despite the Canadians having the momentum entering period two it was the Buffaloes who got the period’s first goal, this one off the stick Robert Tronkowski, who restored the two-goal lead 3:11 into the middle frame.

Canada’s persistence paid off 10 minutes later as Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont.) found Hubbell’s five hole to once again make it a one-goal game.

Despite numerous chances and a late power play, which, combined with Labonté on the bench, made it a 6-on-4 for the final 45 seconds, Canada could not beat Hubbell for the equalizer.

Canada hits the road next week, heading north to take on the Red Deer Optimist Rebels on Tuesday (7:15 p.m. MT) before returning home to face the Calgary Northstars on Thursday (7:30 p.m. MT).

Goals/Buts:
01:17 BUF Tanner Marshall (Brandon McLean, John Stechyshyn)
05:06 BUF Brett Pinder (Brandon McLean, Fabio Coppola) PP/AN
08:40 BUF Fabio Coppola (Brett Pinder)
13:37 CAN Jayna Hefford (Gillian Apps, Caroline Ouellette)
19:15 CAN Hayley Wickenheiser (Tessa Bonhomme)

Penalties/Punitions:
04:34 CAN Tessa Bonhomme (Hooking/Accrocher)
19:50 BUF Nick Licowsky (Interference/Obstruction)

Goals/Buts:
03:11 BUF Robert Tronkowski (Jesse Pentland, Fabio Coppola)
13:51 CAN Rebecca Johnston (Haley Irwin)

Penalties/Punitions:
09:16 CAN Gillian Apps (Goaltender Interference/Obstruction du gardien)
11:41 BUF Tanner Marshall (Elbowing/Donner du coude)
16:00 BUF Blake Orban (Boarding/Donner de la bande)
18:45 CAN Meghan Agosta (Tripping/Faire trébucher)

Goals/Buts:
None/Aucun

Penalties/Punitions:
05:07 BUF Austin Frank (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
18:10 BUF Jesse Pentland (Tripping/Faire trébucher)