HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- The 2004 United States Womens National Team (4-1-0) fell to Canada, 2-0, here today in the gold-medal game at the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation Womens World Championship. Team USA has now captured the silver medal in all eight tournaments that have been held, having faced Canada each time in the finals. Skating with two forwards lost to injury, Shelley Looney (Brownstown Township, Mich.) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Team USA could not break through offensively during a close contest from beginning to end.
The first period resulted in a 0-0 deadlock. Forward Jenny Potter (Eagan, Minn.) hit the post mid-way through the period on what was Team USAs best chance of the stanza. Canadian goaltender Kim St. Pierre came out of the net to cover the puck, which had been knocked loose, Potter picked up the puck and flung it towards the net before skating over the goal line. The U.S. killed two penalties, allowing less than six shots on the combined Canadian power plays.
Canada started off the scoring at 4:17 of the second stanza when Hayley Wickenheiser rifled the puck over the right shoulder of U.S. goaltender Pam Dreyer (Eagle River, Alaska), making the score 1-0. Minutes later Dreyer shut down a Canadian two-on-one opportunity. The U.S. got its first power-play opportunity at 16:56 of the second period, a scrum in the offensive zone put St. Pierre inside her net, but Team USA was unable to convert on the chance.
Canada notched its second and final goal at 1:37 of the third period. Dreyer covered the puck in front of the net, but Delaney Collins snatched the puck when it slid from underneath Dreyers glove to make the score 2-0. At 14:33 Delaney was charged with a hooking penalty, and mid-way through the power play Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.) attempted to lift the puck over St. Pierre and into the net. The shot was not ruled a goal however, leaving the U.S. down two in the final minutes of the game.
Goaltender Pam Dreyer suffered the first loss of her career with Team USA. Dreyer made 25 saves on 27 shots on goal.
Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.) earned Player of the Game honors for Team USA. Wickenheiser was named Player of the Game for Canada. Other awards announced following the game included:
IIHF Directorate Awards
Goaltender: Kim St-Pierre (CAN)
Defenseman: Angela Ruggiero (USA)
Forward: Jayna Hefford (CAN)
Tournament All-Star Team (as voted by media)
Goaltender: Pam Dreyer (USA)
Defenseman: Angela Ruggiero (USA)
Defenseman: Gunilla Anderson (SWE)
Forward: Jennifer Botterill (CAN)
Forward: Natalie Darwitz (USA)
Forward: Jayna Hefford (CAN)
The top three players named for Team USA in the tournament were Pam Dreyer, Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter.
In the bronze-medal game held earlier in the day, Finland defeated Sweden, 3-2.
* * *
USA 0 0 0 -- 0
Canada 0 1 1 -- 2
First Period -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Kilbourne, USA (interference), 3:21; Weiland, USA (boarding), 17:51.
Second Period -- Scoring: 1, CAN, Wickenheiser (Goyette, Brisson), 4:17. Penalties: Insalaco, USA (tripping), 11:37; Vasichek, USA (roughing), 13:49; Apps, CAN (hooking), 16:56.
Third Period -- Scoring: 2, CAN, Collins (unassisted), 1:37. Penalties: Ruggiero, USA (body checking), 2:45; Apps, CAN (boarding), 4:22; Piper, CAN (hooking), 2:33; Collins, CAN (hooking), 14:33; Katie King, USA (roughing), 16:00.
Shots: USA: 9-5-10--24. CAN: 10-8-9--27.
Goaltenders: USA, Dreyer (25 saves, 27 shots). CAN, St. Pierre (24 saves, 24 shots).
Referee: Anu Hirvonen. Linesmen: Johanna Suban, Ilse Robben.
Attendance: 10, 506.
* * * 2004 U.S. Womens National Team Schedule/Results * * *
Date Local Time/EST Match-up Location
March 30 4:00 p.m./3:00 p.m. Switzerland 1, USA 9 Halifax
April 1 4:00 p.m./3:00 p.m USA 8, Russia 0 Halifax
April 3 4:10 p.m./3:10 p.m. USA 3, Canada 1 Halifax
April 5 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. USA 9, Seweden 2 Halifax
April 6 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. USA 0, Canada 2 Halifax
Tag(s): 2011
