2009-10 National Women's Under-18 Team

CANADA BLANKS GERMANY, WILL PLAY FOR U18 GOLD

CHICAGO, Ill. – The elusive gold medal is within reach for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team.

Jessica Campbell (Melville, Sask./Pursuit of Excellence, Midget AAA) and Jillian Saulnier (Halifax, N.S./Toronto, PWHL) had two goals and an assist each – all in a seven-goal third period – as Canada hammered Germany 10-0 in a semifinal on Friday, advancing to Saturday’s gold medal game at the 2010 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Canada has taken home silver from the first two world championships, losing to the United States on both occasions. They could get a third crack at the Americans, depending on the outcome of Friday’s late semifinal between the U.S. and Sweden.

Just six days after routing the Germans 15-0 in a preliminary round meeting, the Canadians looked to be on track for another lopsided score when Hannah Armstrong (Sharon, Ont./Aurora, PWHL) opened the scoring just 1:54 after the opening face-off.

But German goaltender Stephanie Hruby would stand her ground after that, making 15 first-period saves and only allowing a goal from Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont./Ottawa, PWHL) before the end of the opening 20 minutes.

Hruby was even better in the second period, holding the Canadians to just one goal despite her team being outshot 23-6 in the frame. Caitlin MacDonald (Winnipeg, Man./University of Manitoba, CIS) notched her first goal of the tournament, blasting a shot over the shoulder of Hruby to send Canada to the dressing room up 3-0 after two.

But the flood gates opened in the third period, led by Canada’s top line of Campbell, Saulnier and Christine Bestland (Brunkild, Man./Pursuit of Excellence, Midget AAA). Saulnier got the scoring party started just 34 seconds into the period on a power play, and after Jenna McParland (Schreiber, Ont./Toronto, PWHL) made it 5-0, Campbell scored twice in 4:01 and Saulnier added her second of the period 20 seconds after Campbell’s second, putting the game well out of reach for the Germans.

Campbell’s first goal spelled the end for Hruby, who was replaced by Nadja Gruber after allowing six goals.

Bestland and Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./Edouard Montpetit, Collégial AA) rounded out the scoring for Canada, which scored six goals in 10:34 and outshot the Germans 23-1 in the third period.

Carmen MacDonald (Pictou, N.S./Westminster School, U.S. Prep) earned her second shutout of the tournament, making 12 saves. Canada has not allowed a goal in 191:47, dating back to the first preliminary round game against Russia last Saturday.

Saturday’s gold medal game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT face-off, can be seen live via webcast for $6.99 through FASTHockey at www.fasthockey.com.

Goals/Buts :
01:54 CAN Hannah Armstrong (Mélodie Daoust, Cassandra Poudrier)
17:39 CAN Jamie Lee Rattray (Kelly Terry)

Penalties/Pénalités :
03:19 GER Tanja Eisenschmid (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)
07:10 CAN Jessica Campbell (Hooking/Accrocher)
18:09 CAN Kelly Terry (Hooking/Accrocher)
19:04 CAN Carly Mercer (Tripping/Faire trébucher)

Goals/Buts :
14:51 CAN Caitlin MacDonald (Shannon Doyle, Jenna McParland)

Penalties/Pénalités :
07:00 GER Katharina Gerstmeir (Hooking/Accrocher)
08:24 CAN Christine Bestland (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
11:13 GER Daria Gleissner (Hooking/Accrocher)
11:13 CAN Christine Bestland (Cross-checking/Double-échec)
15:22 CAN Jessica Campbell (High-sticking/Bâton éléve)
18:48 GER Anna-Maria Fiegert (Tripping/Faire trébucher)

Goals/Buts :
00:34 CAN Jillian Saulnier (Caitlin MacDonald, Erin Ambrose) PP/AN
04:04 CAN Jenna McParland (Cassandra Poudrier, Emily Fulton)
07:20 CAN Jessica Campbell (Hayleigh Cudmore, Cassandra Poudrier)
11:21 CAN Jessica Campbell (Jillian Saulnier, Christine Bestland)
11:41 CAN Jillian Saulnier (Christine Bestland, Caitlin MacDonald)
13:04 CAN Mélodie Daoust (Laurie Kingsbury, Jamie Lee Rattray)
14:38 CAN Christine Bestland (Jessica Campbell, Brigette Lacquette)

Penalties/Pénalités :
15:23 CAN Hayleigh Cudmore (Interference/Obstruction)