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Sunday, April 9, 2000
Finland 7, Sweden 1
It's bronze again for Finland
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- It's a recurring nightmare for Team Finland at the Women's World Hockey Championships.
Always seeded third behind the Canadians and Americans, Finland is a team just itching to to get into the finals. Yet again, they have to settle for the bronze medal. For the sixth time in a row.
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| Finland centre Petra Vaarakallio celebrates her goal on Sweden goaltender Lotta Gothesson during second period Women's World Hockey Championships Bronze medal action in Mississauga, Ontario on Sunday April 9, 2000.(CP PHOTO/Kevin Frayer) |
Katja Riipi recorded a hat-trick and Tuula Puputti stopped 19 of 20 shots as Finland claimed the bronze medal over Team Sweden at the Hershey Centre.
"First, I would like to thanks to all of my players," said Finnish heach coach Hannu Saintula. "They have (had) a very good week here in Mississauga."
But Saintula stressed that his team still has to work on their mental and physical game to get a chance at playing in a championship final in the near future.
"We had a higher goal in this tournament, but we're happy."
Team Finland's next goal, Saintula said, is to play in the finals for the 2002 Winter Olympics, being held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Finland set the tone early in the game, scoring two goals in the opening five minutes.
First, Katja Lehto scored into a gaping net just 36 seconds into a power-play, receiving a cross-ice pass from Petra Vaarakallio. Two minutes later, Riipi made it 2-0 on a great individual effort, getting her own rebound and beating Swedish goaltender Lotta Gothesson, who was sprawled on the ice.
Sweden had a chance to get on the scoreboard late in the period while on the power-play. Kristina Bergstrand went in on Puputti with time winding down, but shot the puck just wide of the net.
The Finns continued their attack in the second period. After stopping the initial shot from Karoliina Rantamaki, Gothesson gave up the rebound as the puck trickled in the crease to Petra Vaarakallio, who had an easy time putting it in an empty net.
Finland struck again, on their second power-play goal of the day, when Hanne Sikio tipped in a point shot.
Sweden finally got on the scoreboard when Maria Roth blasted the puck past Puputti on the short side with about four minutes left in the period. Swedish fans cheered loudly during the goal, who outnumbered the Finnish fans.
Finland continued their dominance in the third. Riipi added two more for the hat-trick, the final goal coming on a two-man advantage. Marianne Ihalainen scored midway through the period to round out the scoring.
Finland outshot Sweden 48-20.
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