CANADA ROMPS OVER SWEDEN TO EARN SPOT IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

RAVENSBURG, Germany – Canada and Sweden will meet Saturday night for the gold medal at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, but the two nations also met earlier in the day, clashing in a semi-final at the 2008 European Air Canada Cup.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team kicked off what they hope to be a successful day for their country, topping the Swedes 7-2 to move into the championship game in their quest for a sixth straight title at this event.

Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, ON/Mercyhurst College, CHA) got Canada on the board early with a splendid shorthanded effort, splitting the Swedish defence and beating goaltender Kim Martin through the five-hole just over two minutes in.

Just under four minutes later Samantha Hunt (Calgary, AB/Colgate University, ECAC) pushed the lead to two, taking a pass from Emmanuelle Blais (Montreal, QC/University of Minnesota Duluth, WCHA) at the blueline and driving down the wing to beat Martin through the five-hole again, giving Canada a 2-0 lead.

Captain Valerie Chouinard (Matane, QC/Mercyhurst College, CHA) banged in a rebound during a goal-mouth scramble on the powerplay to make the score 3-0 at 11:43, with linemates Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, ON/Cornell University, ECAC) and Agosta earning the assists.

All three members of Canada’s top line were buzzing around the crease in front of Martin, continuing the roll they have been on throughout the tournament. The trio has now combined for 24 points in three games, led by Agosta’s nine (five goals, four assists).

Sweden finally broke through with a powerplay marker of their own at 12:57 as Chanette Svensson deposited a rebound past Canadian goaltender Laura Hosier (Sharon, ON/Mercyhurst College, CHA).

Canada added one more late in the period to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the dressing room, as Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/St. Lawrence University, ECAC) blasted a low slapshot past a screened Martin at 19:04 with Mallory Deluce (London, ON/University of Wisconsin, WCHA) earning an assist on the play.

Two Canadians goals early in the second period chased Martin from the Swedish goal, as Melanie Gagnon (St. Adpolph, MB/University of Minnesota, WCHA) and Jesse Scanzano (Montreal, QC/Mercyhurst College, CHA) scored 45 seconds apart to give Canada a 6-1 lead.

Gagnon took a pass from Hunt and overpowered Martin with a slapshot from the point at 6:07, and Scanzano finished off a beautiful set-up from Courtney Birchard (Mississauga, ON/University of New Hampshire, Hockey East) at 7:02 to put the game out of reach.

Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, ON/University of New Hampshire, ECAC) rounded out the scoring for Canada at the 7:30 mark of the final period, although Agosta had a chance for her second goal of the game on a penalty shot late in the game, but was turned away by the glove hand of Swedish goaltender Sara Grahn.

Ann-Louise Edstrand scored a too little, too late powerplay goal for the Swedes, who were outshot 43-18 and will play for bronze on Sunday.

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Goals/Buts :
CAN Meghan Agosta (Valerie Chouinard, Catherine Ward) 2:38 SH
CAN Samantha Hunt (Haley Irwin, Catherine Ward) 6:12
CAN Valerie Chouinard (Meghan Agosta, Rebecca Johnston) 11:43 PP
SWE Chanette Svennson (Maria Rooth, Ann-Louise Edstrand) 12:57 PP
CAN Britni Smith (Mallory Deluce) 19:04

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN Jocelyne Larocque (Hooking) 2:12
SWE Emilia Andersson (Holding) 6:57
CAN Emmanuelle Blais (Hooking) 9:14
SWE Frida Nevalainen (Hooking) 11:17
CAN Jennifer Wakefield (Interference) 12:29

Goals/Buts :
CAN Melanie Gagnon (Samantha Hunt) 6:15 PP
CAN Jesse Scanzano (Courtney Birchard) 7:02 PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
SWE Maria Rooth (Tripping) 1:24
CAN Catherine Ward (Holding) 4:06
SWE Frida Nevalainen (Interference) 5:27
SWE Maria Rooth (Hooking) 6:30
SWE Angelica Lorsell (Tripping) 9:27
CAN Courtney Birchard (Hooking) 16:54
SWE Danijela Rundqvist (High Sticking) 19:28

Goals/Buts :
CAN Jennifer Wakefield (Jesse Scanzano) 7:30
Missed Penalty Shot – 3rd Period CAN Meghan Agosta 15:12
SWE Ann-Louise Edstrand (Maria Rooth) 16:17 PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN Valerie Chouinard (Tripping) 4:44
CAN Jocelyne Larocque (Interference) 9:46
CAN Melanie Gagnon (Boarding) 14:50
CAN Jocelyne Larocque (Charging) 18:00
CAN Jesse Scanzano (Interference) 20:00