2017-18 National Women's Team

CANADA BLANKED BY NORTHSTARS IN ICEBREAKER FINALE

JASON LA ROSE

CALGARY, Alta. – Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) finished with 22 saves, but Canada’s National Women’s Team couldn’t find any offence in a 4-0 loss to the Calgary Northstars to close out the Icebreaker Tournament on Sunday night.

The Canadians dropped both games to the Northstars in the start-of-season tournament, including a 4-2 setback in the opener on Thursday night. Canada finished the weekend event with a 2-2 record.

The Northstars wasted no time opening the scoring; Brayden Tracey – a first-round WHL pick of the Moose Jaw Warriors who attended Canada’s national under-17 development camp this summer – went five-hole on Lacasse on the breakaway for a 1-0 lead just 48 seconds in.

Lacasse got a little help from her friends in the opening frame; the Northstars hit three posts in the period, including two less than 15 seconds apart, keeping it a one-goal game after 20 minutes.

Tracey doubled the advantage for the Midget side late in the second period on another terrific effort, speeding away from the Canadian defence before going bar-down with a backhand for a shorthanded goal and a 2-0 lead.

Canada tried to get back into the game into the third but couldn’t find the target; it managed just four shots on goal in the period despite numerous chances. Calgary finished with a 26-18 advantage in shots.

Zach Yewchuk and Ryan Wallz scored for the Northstars less than three minutes apart midway through the final frame to put the game fully out of reach and help the AMHL team cap a perfect tournament.

The Canadians are back in action Thursday (1 p.m. MT) when they make the short trip west to take on the Edge School, before facing the Airdrie Bisons on Oct. 3 in the opener of its Where the Journey Begins schedule.