A Canada vs. Russia game certainly has a good ring to it, but the rivalry still has a way to go in women’s hockey. Russia has been a medal threat in past World Championships, but was no threat to the defending Olympic champions from Canada on Sunday.

The Canadian side came out firing on all cylinders, registering seven goals in the first period, including two shorthanded goals against a clearly overmatched Russian squad. And they never let up, cruising to a 12-0 win. Olympic rookie Meghan Agosta, celebrating her 19th birthday on February 12th in style, registered a hat trick in her second game at the Olympics.

Veteran and three-time Olympian Vicky Sunohara opened the scoring at 4:56, directing a Danielle Goyette’s pass behind Russian goaltender Irina Gashennikov.

Meghan Agosta scored her first of three to make it 2-0, putting home a Gina Kingsbury feed past a startled Gashennikov. Cherie Piper was credited with two more markers (video replays seemed to show that one of those goals was actually put in by Gillian Apps), and Goyette with one more, staking Canada to a quick 5-0 lead.

After the fifth goal, Russia made a change in net, with Nadezhda Aleksandrova relieving Gashennikov. But the change did nothing to slow down Canada, who got two more goals from Agosta and Hayley Wickenheiser past Aleksandrova in the final four minutes of the opening frame.

Canadian goaltender Charline Labonté was called upon to make one great save as she faced a total of seven shots in the first period. The native of Boisbriand, QC came across the crease to take a sure goal away from Svetlana Trefilova, whose one-timer didn’t get past Labonté.

After a Katie Weatherston goal early in the second period, Agosta completed the hat trick, putting her own rebound past Aleksandrova. Piper, with her own hat trick goal, Sarah Vaillancourt and defenceman Carla MacLeod completed the scoring, as Canada has now outscored its opponents 28-0 through two games.

Labonté was called upon to make 17 saves, registering a shutout in her first ever Olympic game. In 20 career international starts with the senior women’s team, Labonté has now registered five shutouts.

Canada doesn’t have a game on Monday, but is back in action on Tuesday, February 14th against the third ranked team in the World, Sweden. Game time is 15:30 pm (local)/ 9:30 am (Eastern).

PLAYERS TO WATCH ON TEAM RUSSIA
Forward Svetlana Trefilova was Russia’s only plus player at the 2005 Worlds, at +2. Trefilova also registered two points, tying for the points lead with defenceman Olga Permyakova

Defenceman Olga Volkova, at 23 years old, is a 5’11 hard-nosed blueliner who will be counted on in the defensive zone, which is where Russia will probably be spending most of the game.

Goaltender Maria Onolbaeva started five of Russia’s six games at the 2005 Worlds, coming away with a respectable 2.77 goals against average, and a .887 save percentage.