2010-11 National Women's Team

CANADA HEADS TO 4 NATIONS CUP FINAL VERSUS THE UNITED STATES
AFTER 15-0 THRASHING OF FINLAND
The Canadian Press

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Canada's National Women’s Team thumped Finland 15-0 at the 2010 4 Nations Cup on Friday to earn a rematch with the U.S. in the championship game.

The U.S. beat Canada 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday, in the first game of the tournament for both teams, despite being outshot 34-25. Canada will aim for more finish around the net in Saturday's final (TSN2, 6 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. NT).
Canada is the defending champion in this annual international tournament after defeating the U.S. 5-2 in last year's final in Vierumaki, Finland.

Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que. had a hat trick and an assist for the Canadians, who earned their most lopsided win over the Finns in their 49 games against that country. The youngest player on the team at 19, Poulin scored both goals in Canada's 2-0 win over the U.S. in February's Olympic gold medal game.

Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Jennifer Wakefield (St. Anne, Man.) both added a pair of goals for Canada, while Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, Ont.), Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.), Meaghan Mikkelson (Edmonton, Alta.), Jayna Hefford (Kingston, Ont.), Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, Sask.) Cherie Piper (Scarborough, Ont.), Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, Ont.) and Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont.) also scored. Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta.), who was in net Tuesday for the loss to the U.S., got little work from the Finns in stopping all 12 shots she faced.

Finland's Anna Vanhatalo stopped 25-of-34 shots over two periods in her first start of the tournament. Veteran Noora Raty relieved her in the third, surrendering six goals on 22 shots. Earlier Friday, the U.S. concluded the preliminary round with a 4-0 shutout of Sweden. Hilary Knight, Kacey Bellamy, Monique Lamoureaux-Kolls and Erika Lawler scored for the Americans. Jessie Vetter made 20 saves for the shutout.

Vetter was outstanding Tuesday against Canada with 32 saves, but U.S. head coach Katey Stone said Friday she had not yet decided between Vetter or Molly Schaus for the final. Finland (1-2) and Sweden (0-3) will meet in the bronze medal game Saturday.

Finland, bronze medallists at this year's Olympics and the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championship, has 10 players from their Olympic roster at the 4 Nations Cup. Finland's strategy is to clog the neutral zone and force turnovers, but Canada patiently worked the puck up ice with short passes to gain the blue line. The Finns are usually stronger protecting their own net, but Canada cycled through the offensive zone to open up holes in Finland’s defensive zone and score almost at will.

Notes: Defender Annie Guay (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.) and forward Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont.) were Canada's scratches Friday … Canada has never lost to Finland in 49 meetings, but tied 6-6 on Jan. 20, 1999.

Penalties:
   06:33 FIN 4 Rosa Lindstedt (Cross Checking)
   16:47 CAN 20 Jennifer Wakefield (Interference)

Penalties:
   02:42 FIN 8 Tea Villila (Holding)

Penalties:
   00:49 FIN 31 Noora Räty (Tripping)
   05:16 FIN 21 Michelle Karvinen (Bodychecking)
   17:32 FIN 7 Mira Jalosuo (Interference)