2004 IIHF Women's World Championship

First period outburst
leads Canada to victory
By Matthew Wuest

Canada busted out to an 8-0 lead over Germany in the first period and didn't look back, breezing to a 13-0
victory on Thursday night at the Metro Centre in Halifax, N.S.

Gillian Apps, Jayna Hefford and Danielle Goyette got the Canadians rolling with three goals in a span of 102 seconds early in the first period. Canada put two more pucks past 17-year-old German goaltender Viona Harrer to chase her from the game at the 13:28 mark.

Things didn't get much better for her replacement, Stephanie Wartosch-Kurten, who allowed three more goals before the period was out to give Canada an 8-0 stranglehold heading into the first intermission. The quick first-period start was crucial for Team Canada.

"We're a team that sometimes has a slow start," said Goyette, who tallied a goal and two assists. "It's important for us to start really fast, and it gives us
momentum for the rest of the game."

It was a different story in the second period, at least initially. Wartosch-Kurten stopped 22 straight shots over the first 15:06, putting on a goaltending clinic and pleasing the crowd with a number of spectacular saves.

But the Canadian offensive attack eventually prevailed, as Hefford, Colleen Sostorics and Caroline Oullette converted for singles in the final 4:56 of the second period.

Canada would add two more goals in the final period to cap the 13-0 victory, and fired a total of 64 shots on the German goaltenders. The win was important for Canada as it heads into the next round.

"It's important that each player on our team feels confident going into the next game," said Goyette. "We know the next game's going to be harder, so feeling good on the ice with passing and skating is going to help us."

Sami-Jo Small got the shutout for Canada, turning aside all eight German shots. Jennifer Botterill led the way for Canada offensively, picking up a goal and three assists for a tournament-high seven points. Hefford and Delaney
Collins added two goals and an assist each. With the victory, Canada clinched first place in Pool A.