CANADA BLANKS RUSSIA 6-0 IN SECOND MECO CUP MATCHUP

FÜSSEN, Germany – Canada’s National Women’s Under-22/Development Team shut out Russia 6-0 on Wednesday to remain unbeaten at the 2012 Meco Cup.

Canada scored five first-period goals en route to a second straight round-robin victory. “The team is on a high right now,” said Cassandra Poudrier (Lachenaie, Que./Dawson College, Collégial AA), who scored once and was named player of the game.

Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont./Clarkson University, ECAC) opened the scoring at 7:12 of the first before Saige Pacholok (Edmonton, Alta./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) added another goal at 13:34.

Canada pulled away with three goals in a span of 2:13 late in the period. Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, Ont./Boston University, Hockey East) made it 3-0, before Chelsea Karpenko (Winnipeg, Man./Cornell University, ECAC) and Poudrier added singles.

Canadian head coach Laura Schuler was pleased with the victory, but said there is more work to be done.

“I think we need to pick it up a notch, as far as getting to loose pucks and just playing fast on defence,” Schuler said. “When there's a puck dumped in to our zone, just making sure that we get back quickly so we can transition faster.

“So I think when we had opportunities like that, we kind of slowed down a little bit just because the Russians backed off a little bit.”

Catherine White (Brampton, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) added an insurance goal midway through the second. Genevieve Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Providence College, Hockey East) recorded the shutout.

The defending champs opened the tournament Tuesday with a 4-1 victory over Germany. Canada has the day off Thursday.

Schuler would like to see her players take advantage of their scoring opportunities when they return to the ice Friday against Switzerland.

“We're probably making more passes than we should be,” she said. “So hopefully, we'll start shooting the puck a little bit more.”

Canada outscored Slovakia 13-0 over a two-game series before the tournament. The Canadians spent about 10 days together at a camp last August, but had just one practice day last week before the start of exhibition play.

The annual tournament was previously known as the MLP Cup.

Goals/Buts : 
07:12 CAN Jamie Lee Rattray (S. Davis, H. Cudmore)
13:34 CAN Saige Pacholok (M. Deluce, C. White)
17:04 CAN Tara Watchorn (J. Saulnier, j. Lee Rattray)
17:49 CAN Chelsea Karpenko
19:17 CAN Cassandra Poudrier ( B. Haverstock, S. Bram)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
08:23 CAN Catherine White
08:23 RUS Iya Gavzilova

Goals/Buts : 
08:26 CAN Catherine White (M. Deluce, B. Haverstock)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
01:28 CAN Chelsea Karpenko
05:29 RUS Inna Dyubanok
16:26 RUS Zoya Polunina
19:52 RUS Tatiana Burina
19:52 RUS Tatiana Burina (10 min misconduct)

Goals/Buts : 
none/aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
03:35 RUS Marina Sergina
14:22 CAN Mallory Deluce
16:34 RUS Marina Sergina
19:06 RUS Marina Sergina