February 11, 2006
Hockey Canada Association

Canada's Women's Team Opens Olympics with a Dominant Victory

Canada’s Women’s Olympic team began their defence of Olympic gold on Saturday afternoon as they took on host team Italy. Canada was just too much for Italy to handle in the first period as Caroline Ouellette gave Canada a 1-0 lead 1:36 into the game. Just 12 seconds later, Ouellette notched her second of the game to give Canada a 2-0 lead. Ouellette’s two goals in 12 seconds is the fastest two goals by a National Women’s Team member eclipsing the previous mark set by Vicky Sunohara who netted two in 23 seconds against Japan in 1990. Hayley Wickenheiser made it 3-0 at 4:04 of the first, and Ouellette completed her hat trick with a power-play goal at 6:43 of the first. Defenceman Cheryl Pounder capped of the scoring for Canada in the first off. Canada outshot Italy 26-3 in the first period.

Canada continued their offensive surge in the second period when Sarah Vaillancourt scored just 25 seconds into the period to make it 6-0. Defenceman Carla McLead notched her first of the Games at 2:32 of the first. Wickenheiser notched her second of the game as she connected off a nice passing play from linemates Cherie Piper and Gillian Apps at 38:45. The trio connected once again just over a minute later when Wickenheiser got her third of the game. (The goal was credited to Wickenheiser, however, video replay clearly showed that it was Cherie Piper who scored.) Once again Kim St-Pierre was not very busy in net facind only two shots, while Italian goaltender Debora Montanari made several key saves after facing 21 shots in the period.

To start the third, Italy made a goaltending change replacing Montanari who had a solid two periods stopping 38 of 47 shots with goaltender Luana Frasnelli. The line of Apps, Piper and Wickenheiser picked up where they left off with Apps notching her first of the tournament at 41:35. Jennifer Botterill and Jayna Hefford then made it 12-0 wit goals 1:01 apart from each other. Pounder then notched her second of the game at 49:42 of the third and Danielle Goyette made it 14-0 with her first at 52:19. Apps then netted her second of the game on the power-play at 56:15 while Olympic rookie Katie Weatherston capped off Team Canada’s scoring with her first at 57:37. Canada outshot Italy 19-0 in the third and 66-5 overall. Kim St-Pierre recorded the shutout on a relatively easy night.

Piper led Canada in scoring with a six point effort while Wickenheiser, Apps and Ouellette each recorded five points. The 16-0 victory was Canada’s most lopsided victory at the Winter Olympic Games. Canada’s next game is tomorrow, Sunday Feb. 12th versus Russia, game time is 7:30 pm local time (1:30 ET).