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Sunday, April 9, 2000
It's a war of the world's best, again
Canada survived the battle against Finland yesterday.
Now it has to go to war again against the U.S.
The two North American sides will renew their rivalry tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the final of the 2000 world women's hockey championship at Mississauga's Hershey Centre. Canada has won each of the previous two finals.
Canada advanced with a 3-2 win over Finland, while the U.S. beat Sweden 7-1.
"We work so hard all season to play against the U.S.," Danielle Goyette, who scored two goals including the game winner, said. "We love to play against them. I think we put on a good show and I think people come to the game because they want to see U.S.-Canada."
Canada may go into the game with scoring star Hayley Wickenheiser slightly hurt. She suffered an undetermined shoulder injury in the third period and headed immediately to the Canadian dressing room. While she returned to the bench for the final five minutes and played a shift inside the final minute, she later went to hospital for precautionary reasons.
Team Canada head coach Mel Davidson said Wickenheiser should be cleared to play, but noted Canada's ability to play without her during her third-period absence is indicative of the team's depth.
The Finns, who lost a heartbreaking 4-3 game against the U.S. Thursday night in London, fell behind 2-0 inside the first six minutes. The Finns contended the Canadians' first goal may have been kicked in by Jayna Hefford, who crashed into goalie Tuula Puputti.
Finland narrowed the gap to 2-1 when Marja-Helena Palvila scored at 11:17 on goalie Kim St-Pierre.
Goyette nailed the eventual game-winner at 12:05 of the second period, beating a Finnish player to the puck behind the net and scoring a wraparound on the short side.
The Canadians out-shot Finland 41-27.
Davidson likely won't announce her starting goalie until this morning. Sami Jo Small played in last year's final.
"I thought it was an outstanding game," Davidson said. "Although we were on the top end of the score, they made us earn that."
Finland's rookie head coach Hannu Saintula praised his team for playing well in the tournament, but said his squad needs to improve mentally and physically.
"We are going to do that," he said. "Next time we (will) take the title."
Puputti, who played half the season for the University of Minnesota-Duluth, shared her coach's enthusiasm.
"It's always nice to believe we can do it next year, but we have a lot of work to do," she said.
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