CANADIAN UNDER-22 WOMEN SWEEP EXHIBITION SERIES WITH SLOVAKIA AHEAD OF 2012 MECO CUP

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Canada’s National Women’s Under-22/Development Team got the test it needed in an exhibition series with Slovakia ahead of the 2012 Meco Cup.

Catherine White (Brampton, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) and Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont./Clarkson University, ECAC) each had a goal and an assist Saturday, as Canada beat the Slovaks 5-0. That completed a sweep in the two-game tune-up before the team set off for Germany, where the Meco Cup begins Tuesday.

“It's really great to be here,” said Canadian coach Laura Schuler (Scarborough, Ont./University of Minnesota Duluth, WCHA). “I'm glad that we came earlier to be able to work on some things. We had one day with two practices to get ready.”

“I feel like we've thrown a lot at the kids, so it's great to kind of have these two games to help prepare us.”

After losing 8-0 on Friday, the Slovaks kept things closer Saturday.

White was the only Canadian player to score in the opening 40 minutes. Rattray, Nicole Kosta (Mississauga, Ont./Quinnipiac University, ECAC), Shelby Bram (Ste. Anne, Man./Mercyhurst College, CHA) and Chelsea Karpenko (Winnipeg, Man./Cornell University, ECAC) broke through with goals in the third period for Canada.

“They really started to kind of clog up the middle on us and it was making scoring a little more challenging for us,” Schuler said. “So we adjusted our game plan and started to spread things out a little bit more. Once we did that, we kind of broke free once the third period came around.”

Amanda Mazzotta (London, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) stopped all 10 shots she faced in the Canadian net.

Following the game, the team gathered together for a New Year's Eve dinner. The players are excited to be spending the holidays overseas.

“Every time I represent our country, it's a huge honour,” Bram said. “It just feels great. It's exciting, every little thing we do.”

Canada begins defence of its title at the Meco Cup, formerly called the MLP Cup, against host Germany on Tuesday. Finland, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland are also in the tournament.

There is plenty on the line for the Canadian women.

“They all know that they're being evaluated to potentially try for a position for the senior national team for the Olympic year,” Schuler said. “There is that little bit of stress to it as well. But they're all high-level athletes and I think they really have fun when they get together.”

Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
None/Aucune

Goals/Buts : 
10:59 CAN 19 Catherine White (8 Jessica Campbell)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
37:42 SVK 21 Barbora Kežmarská (Tripping/Faire trébucher)

Goals/Buts : 
03:12 CAN 24 Nicole Kosta (20 Isabel Ménard)
13:31 CAN 28 Shelby Bram (18 Jamie Lee Rattray, 20 Isabel Ménard)
13:56 CAN 18 Jamie Lee Rattray (3 Sarah Edney)
14:46 CAN 16 Chelsea Karpenko (19 Catherine White)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
50:18 SVK 6 Jana Kapustová (Tripping/Faire trébucher)