Canada began the group stage with a 4-1 win over Finland at the Women’s World Hockey Championship in Utica, New York.
On their road to potential redemption after losing in the gold medal game last year on home soil to the US Canada got off to a flying start against the Fins. With the return of Marie Phillipe Poulin who before tonight hadn’t played a game since March 8th due to a lower-body injury boosted the team.
Canada got goals from Brianne Jenner, Emma Maltais, Ella Shelton, and Julia Gosling who scored her first goal for Canada in her international debut which helped them secure their 100th win. Anne Renee Desbiens made 33 saves in the win and improved her record with Canada to 36-7.
Despite the win head coach Troy Ryan who also coaches PWHL Toronto said the game wasn’t perfect and that things need to be worked on.
” We just need to be more aggressive defensively,” Ryan said. “but also just manage the puck better a little better offensively.”
Canada opened the scoring 10 minutes into the game as Brianne Jenner was able to pick up a loose rebound off a shot from Jamie Lee Rattray and beat the Finnish goaltender Sanni Ahola.
Emma Maltais doubled Canada’s lead two minutes into the second period as she got a great feed from Natalie Spooner who was behind the net and was able to beat Ahola with a quick shot.
Three minutes later Finland got on the board when Petra Nimenin got a solid pass and was able to get the puck past Desbiens who despite conceding the goal had an amazing performance.
With 32 seconds remaining in the second frame, Julia Gosling with an amazing deke was able to slip the puck past Ahola to make it 3-1 in front of friends and family who were in attendance.
” I wasn’t even thinking about the score”, Gosling said after the game. ” We were just rolling and it was a big goal at the end of the second period. You got momentum and bring that into the third period so I think it was crucial for our team.”
Ella Shelton made it 4-1 with 2:22 left in regulation during a mad scramble in front of Ahola’s net and Shelton from the point was able to beat her top corner.
It is a very short turnaround for Canada who will be back on the ice Friday at 3 pm when they face Switzerland in a back-to-back situation to open the tournament.
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