2010-11 National Women's Team

CANADA BEATS U.S. 3-2 IN OT TO WIN 4 NATIONS CUP WOMEN’S HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont.) scored the overtime winner as Canada downed the U.S. 3-2 to win the 4 Nations Cup on Saturday.

Johnston tapped in a powerplay goal at 6:25 in the extra period for her second goal of the game. Meaghan Mikkelson (Edmoton, Alta.) scored a goal and assisted on Johnston's winner. Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont.) had three assists and Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.) two, in front of a sellout crowd of 6,200 at Mile One Centre. The forward line of Johnston, Irwin and Agosta were Canada's top performers Saturday. Julie Chu and Kendall Coyne replied for the U.S., who had beaten the hosts 3-2 in a shootout on Tuesday in the first game of the tournament for both countries. Monique Lamoureux-Kolls had two assists.

A frightening injury to American defenceman Kacey Bellamy just before Johnston's goal subdued Canada's post-game celebration. Just over five minutes into the 20-minute overtime, Bellamy hauled Johnston down on a half breakaway and the two players crashed into the boards. Bellamy was taken from the ice on a stretcher. She appeared conscious and head coach Katey Stone said afterwards that Bellamy was able to move her limbs. Bellamy's two-minute minor gave Canada their second powerplay of overtime. Canada outshot the U.S. 52-26 in the game.

Stone went with Molly Schaus in net, even though Jessie Vetter made 32 saves and didn't give up a goal in the shootout Tuesday. Schaus was up to the task, particularly in the second and third periods when her team was outshot 31-13 by the hosts.

Canadian head coach Ryan Walter gave Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta.) her second start in as many nights and third of the tournament. The 24-year-old had to be sharp early as her team was outshot 10-5 for most of the first period, until a late powerplay helped even up shots at 10 apiece.

Third on Canada's goaltending depth chart just two years ago, the 24-year-old has ascended to No. 1 ahead of veterans Kim St. Pierre and Charline Labonte after her 29-save shutout against the U.S. in the Olympic final Feb. 25.
While Canada threw a lot of shots on the U.S. net, they struggled at times coming out of their own zone.
Canada pressed for the winner during the 20-minute overtime. A backhand shot by Johnston early in the period had the crowd leaping to its feet, thinking she'd scored the winner. The puck seemed to follow the 21-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., around during the game.

Bellamy was called for body-checking Caroline Ouellette with 17 seconds remaining in regulation so Canada carried a man-advantage into the extra period. The U.S. also had a powerplay late in the third period when Marie-Philip Poulin was called for hooking at 16:48, but couldn’t muster the go-ahead goal with it. The Americans scored a pair of goals in the second period to take the lead before Mikkelson tied it up with her fourth goal of the tournament. Mikkelson batted a rebound past Schaus's right pad on a shot by Agosta for a powerplay goal at 18:01.

Canadian defender Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man.) turned the puck over behind the blue line, which Coyne and Lamoureux-Kolls turned into an odd-man rush and a goal at 10:24. Chu drove the net and backhanded a shot over Szabados at 9:07 for the Americans' first goal.

Hard forechecking by the line of Johnston, Agosta and Irwin forced a turnover in the U.S. zone, which Johnston and Agosta turned into an odd-man rush. Johnston batted in a rebound at 16:46 to give Canada the early lead.
Defender Annie Guay drew into Saturday's lineup in place of Bobbi-Jo Slusar, who suffered a lower-body injury in Friday's game against Finland.

Finland recovered from its 15-0 thrashing at the hands of Canada on Friday to beat Sweden 2-1 for third place.
Karoliina Rantamaki and Annina Rajahuhta scored in the first period for Finland and Pernilla Winberg replied for Sweden. Noora Raty earned the win with 31 saves.

These four teams will meet again at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship from April 16-25 in Zurich and Winterthur, Switzerland. They'll be joined by the hosts Swiss, Russia, Slovakia and Kazakhstan. The U.S. is the defending world champion after taking the title in 2009 in Hameenlinna, Finland. The 2010 4 Nations Cup was Canada's first international tournament after beating the U.S. 2-0 for Olympic gold Feb. 25 in Vancouver, B.C. While Canada retained 13 veterans from that team, the defence had five players with minimal international experience.

Walter, a former NHL player and an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks last season, was named the women's coach for the 4 Nations. Hockey Canada has yet to announce who will coach Canada at the world championships in April. Notes: Canada is 22-8-1 versus the U.S. in 4 Nations Cup games … Total attendance over eight games of the 4 Nations Cup was announced at just under 30,000.

Penalties:
   05:22 USA 7 Monique Lamoureux (Hooking)
   07:20 USA 22 Kacey Bellamy (Bodychecking)
   10:01 CAN 8 Annie Guay (Interference)
   18:01 USA 8 Caitlin Cahow (Cross Checking)

Penalties:
   02:10 CAN 12 Meaghan Mikkelson (Interference)
   05:03 USA 9 Molly Engstrom (Holding)
   10:50 USA 13 Julie Chu (Hooking)
   17:31 USA 8 Caitlin Cahow (Interference)
   19:22 CAN 22 Hayley Wickenheiser (Hooking)

Penalties:
   03:39 CAN 2 Meghan Agosta (Slashing)
   07:07 CAN 3 Jocelyne Larocque (Tripping)
   07:17 USA 13 Julie Chu (Holding)
   16:48 CAN 29 Marie-Philip Poulin (Hooking)
   19:43 USA 22 Kacey Bellamy (Bodychecking)

Penalties:
   04:58 USA 22 Kacey Bellamy (Tripping)