RAVENSBURG, Germany - Canada’s National Women’s Under 22 Team opened the 2007 Air Canada Cup with a convincing 10-0 win over Japan on January 3rd.

The veteran line of Meghan Agosta, Sarah Vaillancourt and Ashley Riggs opened the scoring for the second consecutive night as Vaillancourt converted an Agosta centring pass midway through the first period. Bobbi Ross of Verwood, SK upped Canada’s lead to 2-0 on a similar pretty passing play from Stephanie Jones and Jesse Scanzano just over five minutes later.

The line of Rebecca Johnston, Sabrina Harbec and Valerie Chouinard had several scoring chances in the first period and were finally rewarded for their efforts early in the second as Harbec buried a shot from the high slot with both Johnston and Chouinard earning assists. Team Canada took further control of the game in the latter half of the period as goals by Riggs and Chouinard just over two minutes apart gave the Canadians a sound 5-0 lead heading into the third.

Eighteen year old defenceman Britni Smith of Port Perry increased the lead to 6-0 at 6:11 of the third as she converted a nice passout from Jesse Scanzano. Bobbi Jo Slusar added some more scoring punch from the blueline three minutes later with Stephanie Jones and Melanie Gagnon drawing assists. Jones added a goal of her own later in the period while veterans Sarah Vaillancourt and Ashley Riggs rounded out the scoring for Team Canada.

The Air Canada Cup consists of two pools of three teams. As part of the tie breaking procedure in the event of a three way tie at the end of the round robin, all round robin games will feature a three player shootout at the conclusion of the game regardless of the score in regulation time. Team Canada was victorious in the shootout as well. Rebecca Johnston and Annie Guay both beat Nana Fujimoto in the Japanese goal while Canadian goalie Laura Hosier foiled both shooters that she faced. The third shooters for each team were not required.

Team Canada will enjoy a day off on Thursday before taking on Germany in their second round robin game on January 5th.

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Goals/Buts :
1. CAN, SarahVaillancourt (Meghan Agosta) 10:16
2. CAN, Bobbi Ross (Jesse Scanzano, Stephanie Jones) 15:45

Penalties/Pénalités :
Ami Nakamura (High Sticking/Raccrocher) 13:45

Goals/Buts :
3. CAN, Sabrina Harbec (Rebecca Johnston, Valerie Chouinard) 4:06
4. CAN, Ashley Riggs (SarahVaillancourt, Meghan Agosta) 12:41
5. CAN, Valerie Chouinard (Sabrina Harbec) 14:49

Penalties/Pénalités :
Bobbi Jo Slusar CAN (Interference/Obstruction) 18:07
Stephanie Jones CAN (Hooking/Raccrocher) 19:20

Goals/Buts :
6. CAN, Britni Smith (Jesse Scanzano, Stephanie Jones) 6:11
7. CAN, Bobbi Jo Slusar (Stephanie Jones, Melanie Gagnon) 9:56
8. CAN, Sarah Vaillancourt (Bobbi Ross) 10:43
9. CAN, Stephanie Jones (Jesse Scanzano) 17:13
10. CAN, Ashley Riggs (Meghan Agosta, Bobbi Jo Slusar) 19:08

Penalties/Pénalités :
Sarah Vaillancourt CAN (Hooking/Raccrocher) 8:07
Dominique Thibault CAN (Elbowing/Donner du coude) 14:22