Canada’s National Women’s Under 22 Team overcame some adversity caused by missed flights and lost luggage to post a 5-1 win over Team Germany in an exhibition tune up for the 2007Air Canada Cup tournament played at Memmingen on January 2nd. Flight delays saw five players not arrive in Germany until the afternoon of the game and lost luggage forced three other players to miss the team’s only skate together overseas prior to taking on the host Germans.

The veteran line of Meghan Agosta, Sarah Vaillancourt and Ashley Riggs lead the way getting Canada off to a fast start as Agosta broke down the right wing and banked a shot in off the far post just twenty-one seconds into the game. Vaillancourt and Riggs both earned assists on the play. Germany tied the score just after the seven minute mark of the period as Maritta Becker converted a centring pass from Susann Gotz. However, Canada responded immediately less than a minute later as seventeen year old Rebecca Johnston of Sudbury split the defense and went in alone to roof a nice backhand over German goalie Jennifer Harss. The continued hard work of the Riggs-Agosta-Vaillancourt line saw Riggs up Canada’s lead to 3-1 five minutes later as she banged home a rebound from an Agosta shot. Rouyn Noranda’s Annie Guay added further momentum right at the end of the period by beating Harss high to the glove side at 19:26 with assists going to Hayley McMeekin and Bobbi Ross.

Canada added another important late period goal in the second as Sarah Vaillancourt sent Ashley Riggs in alone to score her second of the night giving the Canadians a 5-1 lead heading into the final frame. Canada doubled Germany in shots in the third period but were not able to put any more past Viona Harrer who replaced Harss in the German goal midway through the game. Shannon Szabados and Laura Hosier split the goaltending duties for Canada. The Canadians outshot the Germans 52-15 on the evening.

Team Canada will open the Air Canada Cup tournament against Japan on January 3rd. All tournament games will be played in Ravensburg.

4

1

0

5

1

0

0

1

Goals/Buts :
1. CAN, Meghan Agosta (SarahVaillancourt, Ashley Riggs) 0:28
2. GER, Maritta Becker (Susann Gotz, Andrea Lanzl) 7:08 PP
3. CAN, Rebecca Johnston 7:51
4. CAN, Ashley Riggs (Meghan Agosta) 12:40
5. CAN, Annie Guay (Hayley McMeekin, Bobbi Ross) 19:26

Penalties/Pénalités :
Tarin Podloski CAN (Tripping/Trebucher) 6:50
Hayley McMeekin CAN (Crosscheck/Double-echec) 7:58

Goals/Buts :
6. CAN, Ashley Riggs (SarahVaillancourt) 19:56

Penalties/Pénalités :
Sara Seiler GER (Hooking/Raccrocher) 1:11
Carina Sphuler GER (Hooking/Raccrocher) 3:11
Dominique Thibault CAN (Holding/Retiner) 13:13
Christina Fellner GER (Interference/Obstruction) 14:19

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN (Too Many Men/Punition mineure de banc) served by Stephanie Jones 1:32
CAN (Too Many Men/Punition mineure de banc) served by Ashley Riggs 16:40
Nina Ziegenhals GER (Holding/Retenir) 18:05
Bettina Evers GER (Hooking/Raccrocher) 19:59