2008-09 National Women's Under-18 Team

CANADA BLANKS FINLAND AT WOMEN’S U18 WORLDS

FÜSSEN, GERMANY – Two games, two wins. Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team is off to a great start at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, QC/Dawson College, Collégial AA) had a goal and two assists to lead the way offensively as Canada moved to 2-0 in Group B play with a 6-0 victory over Finland on Tuesday. The Canadians have won all five preliminary round games they have played in the history of the tournament, outscoring the opposition 60-4.

Cassie Seguin (Ingleside, ON/Ottawa, PWHL) picked up the shutout between the pipes in her tournament debut, making 11 saves. All of Seguin’s stops came in the opening 40 minutes, as the Finns failed to record a shot on goal in the third period.

It was the combination of Poulin and Melodie Daoust (Valleyfield, QC/Sélects, Midget AA) that got Canada on the board, as Poulin took a pass from Daoust and roofed a shot over the shoulder of Finnish netminder Susanna Airaksinen on a Canadian power play.

Finland’s defence did its best to hold back the high-powered Canadian offence, holding it to just 11 shots in the opening 20 minutes. But Canada directed 25 at Airaksinen in the second period, and found the net three times to break the game open.

After setting up the opening goal, it was Daoust who picked up Canada’s second marker, sneaking a shot past the skate of Airaksinen. Jessica Wong (Baddeck, NS/Stoney Creek, PWHL) and Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ON/Ottawa, PWHL) – shorthanded – also counted before the end of the middle frame.

Brianne Jenner (Oakville, ON/Mississauga, CWHL) and Jessica Campbell (Melville, SK/Pursuit of Excellence) took over the third period for the Canadians as Campbell set up the Canadian captain for the fifth goal, and the two combined to set up Laurie Kingsbury (Valleyfield, QC/Sélects, Midget AA) just over three minutes later to round out the scoring.

Airaksanen was the story for the Finns, turning aside 48 shots to keep the score respectable.

Canada, which has assured itself of a spot in Friday’s semifinals, wraps up the preliminary round on Wednesday against the Czech Republic (8:30 a.m. EST).

Goals/Buts :
08:38 CAN Marie-Philip Poulin (Melodie Daoust, Laura Fortino) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités :
07:24 FIN Elisa Rytkonen (Hooking/Accrocher)
12:43 FIN Jutta Stoltenberg (Charging/Assaut)
12:43 CAN Marie-Philip Poulin (Charging/Assaut)
15:57 FIN Tytti Lintula (Boarding/Donner de la bande)
19:31 CAN Melodie Daoust (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
09:16 CAN Melodie Daoust (Jessica Wong, Marie-Philip Poulin)
13:02 CAN Jessica Wong (Brigette Lacquette, Marie-Philip Poulin) PP/AN
13:58 CAN Jamie Lee Rattray SH/DN

Penalties/Pénalités :
02:07 FIN Milla Heikkinen (Hooking/Accrocher)
04:34 CAN Breann Frykas (Slashing/Cingler)
09:21 FIN Tea Villila (Charging/Assaut)
12:13 FIN Isa Rahunen (Holding/Retenir)
13:49 CAN Brianne Jenner (Boarding/Donner de la bande)
17:19 CAN Jillian Saulnier (Tripping/Trébucher)
17:43 FIN Heidi Hallikainen (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
14:54 CAN Brianne Jenner (Jessica Campbell)
18:06 CAN Laurie Kingsbury (Jessica Campbell, Brianne Jenner) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités :
08:42 FIN Tiina Saarimaki (Tripping/Trébucher)
17:23 FIN Tytti Lintula (Holding/Retenir)
18:55 CAN Breann Frykas (Holding/Retenir)