2008 IIHF Women's World Championship

CANADA LOSS SETS UP US-CANADA GOLD MEDAL FINAL

HARBIN, CHINA – Canada’s National Women’s Team dropped a 4-2 final to Team USA on Thursday at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship, the final game of the qualifying round for both teams.

Canada had already earned a berth in Saturday’s gold medal game (TSN/RDS, 7 a.m. ET, 4 a.m. PST) thanks to a 4-2 win over Finland on Wednesday.

Against the US, Jayna Hefford (Kingston, ON/Brampton, CWHL) opened the scoring at 4:21 of the first period. Natalie Darwitz scored to tie the game at 15:34 but Kelly Bechard (Sedley, SK/Calgary, WWHL) restored Canada’s lead 34 seconds later, when her snap shot beat US goaltender Jessie Vetter.

Canada led 2-1 after one.

Team USA tied the game in the second on the power play, as Caitlin Cahow’s shot beat Charline Labonte (Boisbriand, QC/McGill, CIS). The teams were tied after two and the US took a 3-2 lead at 8:24 of the third, when Meghan Duggan buried a puck from in close.

Darwitz added her second of the game into an empty net to conclude the scoring.

Team USA finished first in the qualifying round with four points, followed by Canada with three and Finland with two.

Team USA needed to beat Canada in order to earn a spot in the gold medal final.

Canada will attempt to win its second-straight IIHF World Women’s Championship and 10th all-time.

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Final

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Goals/Buts :
04:21 CAN Hefford (Kingsbury, Kellar) pp
15:34 USA Darwitz Lawler, Chu) pp
16:08 CAN Bechard (Macleod)

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:56 CAN Vailancourt (hooking)
02:44 USA Parsons (tripping)
06:37 USA Faber (interference)
09:05 CAN Weatherston (body-checking)
13:18 CAN Team (too many players)
14:42 CAN Sostorics (holding)
17:05 USA Bellamy (hooking)

Goals/Buts :
06:33 USA Cahow (Marvin, Drazan) pp

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:46 USA Stack (tripping)
05:26 CAN Vailancourt (hooking)
07:37 CAN Botterill (hooking)
08:54 USA Potter (hooking)
12:00 USA Parsons (holding)
15:44 CAN Ouellette (body-checking)
17:43 CAN Collins (hooking)

Goals/Buts :
08:24 USA Duggan (Darwitz, Chu)
19:36 USA Darwitz

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:47 USA Bellamy (elbowing)
06:17 CAN Vailancourt (interference)
08:46 USA Thatcher (interference)
13:06 USA Drazan (holding)