CANADA TO PLAY FOR GOLD AT 2009 MLP CUP

RAVENSBURG, GERMANY – Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team will play for its seventh straight gold medal at the 2009 MLP Cup.

A first-period goal from Vicki Bendus (Wasage Beach, ON/Mercyhurst College, CHA) stood up as the game winner as Canada topped the host team from Germany 3-0 in Monday’s semifinal at the Eissporthalle Ravensburg. Canada will go for gold on Tuesday (2 p.m. EST) against Sweden.

Canada controlled the play for much of the game – outshooting the Germans 56-20 overall – and would have had a bigger lead on the scoreboard if not for the efforts of German netminder Viola Harrer, who turned aside 53 shots.

Early on it looked as if Canada would runaway with the victory, as Bendus scored just 4:35 after the opening face-off.

But Harrer would not allow a goal for another 37:52, until Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, ON/University of Minnesota-Duluth, WCHA) doubled the Canadian lead just past the two-minute mark of the third period. Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, MB/Mercyhurst College, CHA) rounded out the scoring three minutes after Irwin’s goal, ensuring Canada’s 21st win in 22 games at the tournament (formerly the Air Canada Cup).

Catherine Ward (Montreal, QC/McGill University, CIS) finished with two assists in the win while Christina Kessler (Oakville, ON/Harvard University, ECAC) made 20 saves for the shutout, her second in as many days.

Canada faced the Swedes in the semifinals last year, scoring a 7-2 win. Canada’s roster for the 2009 MLP Cup includes 11 players who played in the game.

Goals/Buts :
04:35 CAN Bendus (Ward, Johnston)

Penalties/Pénalités :
07:00 CAN Catherine Ward (Roughing/Rudesse)
17:24 GER Christina Fellner (Holding/Retenir)

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
07:05 CAN Haley Irwin (Hooking/Accrocher)
13:37 GER Maritta Becker (Holding/Retenir)
18:02 GER Claudia Weltermann (Holding/Retenir)

Goals/Buts :
02:27 CAN Irwin (Blais)
05:36 CAN Bram (Smith, Ward)

Penalties/Pénalités :
04:03 GER Mona Pink (Interference/Obstruction)
05:57 GER Andrea Lanzl (Holding/Retenir)
11:22 CAN Catherine Ward (Holding the Stick/Retenir le baton)
11:32 CAN Natalie Spooner (High-sticking/Baton èlevè)