November 20, 1997
NR.129

WOMEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM BEATS FINLAND 6-1 TO WIN TOURNAMENT FINAL

HELSINKI, Finland -- Stacy Wilson of Salisbury, NB, scored two power play goals and assisted on another goal Thursday as Team Canada downed the Finnish Women's Olympic Team 6-1 to win a three-nation hockey tournament.

The victory gave Canada a perfect 5-0 won-lost record at the tournament, which also involved the National Women's Team from Sweden, and runs the club's overall season mark to 13-2. The only two losses have come against Team USA, with whom Canada has split four games so far. Canada and the USA are scheduled to play eight more pre-Olympic games between now and the end of January.

Danielle Goyette of St-Nazaire, QC, Jayna Hefford of Kingston, ON, Hayley Wickenheiser of Calgary, AB, and Jennifer Botterill of Winnipeg, MB also scored for Canada. Nancy Drolet of Sherbooke, QC and Fiona Smith of Edam, SK each had a pair of assists for Canada. And even goaltender Manon Rhéaume of Charlesbourg, QC chipped in with an assist.

"This was an excellent trip for our team as we prepare for the Olympics," said assistant coach Daniel Sauvageau of Montreal. "We visited eight cities in 16 days and finished with a flourish.

"We played with intensity tonight, but we also played smart, which says a lot about our players. It was a solid completion of a very worthwhile series of games."

The team returns to Canada today (Friday) and resumes training on Monday at Father David Bauer Arena, their home base from Sept. 97 until the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan next February.

SUMMARY

First Period

No scoring.
Penalty -- Schuler CAN (hooking) 12:04.

Second Period

1. Canada, Goyette (Drolet, Wilson) 1:01
2. Canada, Hefford 4:34
3. Canada, Wilson (Smith, Rhéaume) 19:25 PP

Penalties -- Schuler CAN (hooking) 5:21, Dupuis CAN (holding) 11:47, Reima FIN (high sticking, double minor) 5:52.

Third Period

4. Canada, Wilson (Kellar, Drolet) 8:43 PP
5. Finland, Ihalainen (Reima) 9:58
6. Canada, Wickenheiser (Fahey) 10:18
7. Canada, Botterill (Smith) 18:40

Penalty -- Palvila FIN (tripping) 8:27.