2010-11 National Women's Under-18 Team

CANADIAN GIRLS BEAT SWEDISH BANTAM BOYS 4-2

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team skated out of the gates determined to beat the Swedish boys, and that’s exactly what the girls did Thursday inside Husby Ishall arena, topping the elite Bantam squad 4-2.

Defenceman Erin Ambrose opened the scoring by accepting a pass to the point from forward Sarah Robson (Etobicoke, Ont.) on a power play and firing it past a surprised Swedish goaltender at just over six minutes into the game.

The early lead gave the canucks a confidence boost that had them making smart plays and crisp passes, while also withstanding some tough hits from their male counterparts. But it was Cayley Mercer (Exter, Ont.) who ensured the momentum stayed in Canada’s favour, knocking in a couple of rebounds in the second, at 8:23 and 15:08 respectively, to put the National Women’s Under-18 Team up 3-0 going into intermission.

The Bantam boys battled hard in the third for a comeback, putting two goals past the Canadian goal line in the first part of the period, but the ladies in red and white wouldn’t allow any more, fighting back to hold on to their lead as the clock ran down on the game. Cydney Roesler (Stittsville, Ont.) capped it off midway through the third, taking a low shot to slip it past the Swedish netminder after some slick passing out front from Shelby Bram (Ste. Anne, Man.) and Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont.), who earned her second assist of the evening.

With a win now under their belts, Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will kick off the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship on a positive note they’re prepared to maintain. Canada’s first game of the tournament is set for 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, January 1 against Switzerland.

Goals/Buts : 
06:17 CAN Erin Ambrose (Sarah Robson, Hailey Browne) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
04:55 AIK Daniel Fruklovskiy (Cross-checking/Double-échec)
07:12 CAN Cydney Roesler (Hooking/Accrocher)
10:05 CAN Meghan Dufault (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
18:52 AIK Andreas Soulas (Holding/Retenir)

Goals/Buts : 
08:23 CAN Cayley Mercer (Emily Fulton)
15:08 CAN Cayley Mercer (Rebecca Kohler, Laura Stacey)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
11:02 AIK Axel Holmgren (Interference/Obstruction)
16:02 CAN Cayley Mercer (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts : 
03:14 AIK Anton Wahl (Alex Ek)
07:58 AIK Nicolas Johansson-Brack PP/AN
10:24 CAN Cydney Roesler (Laura Stacey, Shelby Bram) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
06:22 CAN Shelby Bram (Slashing/Coupe de bâton)
10:08 AIK Anton Wahl (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
15:44 CAN Nicole Kosta (Holding/Retenir)
17:20 CAN Erin Ambrose (P. Out)
18:43 CAN Meghan Dufault (Hooking/Accrocher)