2011 IIHF Women's World Championship

CANADIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM FALLS 4-1 TO U.S. IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WARMUP

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Canadian women's hockey team fell 4-1 to the U.S. in an exhibition game Friday at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

The game was the second of two exhibitions between the countries as they prepare for the 2011 IIHF women's world hockey championship April 16-25 in Winterthur and Zurich, Switzerland.

While Canada named its 21-player roster for the world championships Wednesday after a four-day selection camp, the U.S. still has 30 players in camp and will announce its team Saturday.

Canada defeated the U.S. 3-1 in the first game Thursday, but the Americans had the visitors under pressure from the opening faceoff Friday and led 3-0 after two periods.

“We asked our players to empty the tank and they were tired,” Canadian head coach Ryan Walter said. “We've been going real hard and obviously the U.S. had fresh legs with a lot of players who didn't play last night.”

Monique Lamoureux-Kolls, Jen Schoullis, Brianna Decker and Gigi Marvin scored for the U.S.

Edmonton defender Meaghan Mikkelson replied for Canada.

Both countries split goaltending duties. Jessie Vetter and Molly Schaus combined for the win with Vetter stopping all 11 shots she faced and Schaus allowing one goal on 18 shots.

Canada's Kim St. Pierre of Chateauguay, Que., stopped 16 of 18 shots before Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., gave up another two goals on 15 shots.

Canada and the U.S. have met in the final of all 12 world championships held since 1990. The Canadians have won nine gold medals while the Americans have won three, including the last two.

Special teams were the difference Friday as the U.S. scored three power-play goals on eight chances. Canada was 1-for-9.

The Canadians depart Saturday for Switzerland. Walter says the team will have two-a-day practices starting Monday after their arrival and will spend time on special teams.

“These two games against the U.S. back-to-back, I think we have a real sense of what we got,” he said. “In both games, I thought some of our kids were nervous playing at this level.

“I think these two games have probably been good for our youngsters for the level they have to get to.”

Marvin's wrist shot through traffic beat Labonté five-hole at 10:59 of the third period.

The Americans were assessed a bench minor for delay of game to open the third as they were late leaving their dressing room. Mikkelson wired a shot from the point past Schaus at 1:21 for Canada's lone goal of the night.

Canada killed off a U.S. two-man advantage for 56 seconds in the second period, but the hosts scored with 14 seconds left in the period when Dekker lifted a backhand shot over Labonté.

Schoullis scored her second goal in as many games at 16:14 of the first period. Canada's defence collapsed and allowed veteran forward Jenny Potter to penetrate the offensive zone and get a shot away on St. Pierre. Schoullis banged in the rebound to make it 2-0.

Lamoureux-Kolls scored just 45 seconds in on a wrist shot off an offensive-zone faceoff won by Kelli Stack.

Canada play an exhibition game April 14 versus Sweden before opening the world championship April 16 in Winterthur against the host Swiss.

Goals/Buts : 
00:45 USA Monique Lamoureux-Kolls
15:44 USA Jen Schoullis (Jenny Potter) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
04:19 USA Monique Lamoureux-Kolls (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)
10:15 CAN Caroline Ouellette (Hooking/Accrocher)
10:50 USA Brianna Decker (Holding/Retenir)
13:45 CAN Tara Watchorn (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)

Goals/Buts : 
19:53 USA Brianna Decker (Monique Lamoureux-Kolls)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
01:50 USA Jocelyne Lamoureux (Hooking/Accrocher)
08:43 USA Brianna Decker (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)
12:31 CAN Meaghan Mikkelson (Hooking/Accrocher)
13:34 CAN Tara Watchorn (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
15:14 USA Kelli Stack (Roughing/Rudesse)
15:14 CAN Sarah Vaillancourt (Roughing/Rudesse)
18:44 CAN Gillian Apps (Tripping/Faire trébucher)

Goals/Buts : 
01:21 CAN Meaghan Mikkelson (Jennifer Wakefield, Caroline Ouellette) PP/AN
10:59 USA Gigi Marvin (Kacey Bellamy)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
00:00 USA Bench/Banq
04:29 CAN Jocelyn Larocque (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)
07:33 USA Josephine Pucci (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
11:49 CAN Sarah Vaillancourt (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)
16:24 USA Jocelyne Lamoureux (Body-checking/Mise en échec corporelle)
17:29 USA Angela Ruggeiro (Interference/Obstruction)