USA Women's Hockey

FUSSEN, Germany – Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill.) scored 6:47 into overtime andAlex Rigsby (Delafield, Wis.) made 38 saves in net to lift the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team to a 3-2 victory over Canada and secure the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U18 Championship title here tonight at the Fussen Arena. Team USA finished the tournament with a 4-1-0-0 record (W-OTW-OTL-L) to defend its world title.

"It's an exciting day for USA Hockey," said Team USA Head Coach Mark Johnson, who is also the head women's ice hockey coach at the University of Wisconsin. "Anytime you get to play for a championship, it's special, but when it's a world championship, it's that much better. The players, support staff and everyone involved with the team played their role and did things very well and the end result is bringing home the trophy."

After playing to a scoreless draw during the majority of a physical, back-and-forth first period, Team USA broke onto the scoreboard at the 18:14 mark to take a 1-0 lead.Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) took a shot from the slot and after Canadian netminder Roxanne Douville made the initial save, Brittany Ammerman (River Vale, N.J.) found the loose puck and slapped it in from the left doorstep.

Team USA extended its lead to 2-0 in the early part of the second frame when Taylor Wasylk (Port Huron, Mich.) knocked the puck in from the left post after a scramble in front of Canada's net at 4:28. The two-goal U.S. advantage lasted through to 18:35 of the period when Melodie Daoust put in a rebound just after the Canadians had been on the power play for four straight minutes.

A tic-tac-toe play by Canada at 12:37 of the third stanza resulted in Jessica Wong scoring the game-tying goal that forced a 20-minute 4-on-4 sudden-death overtime session.

In the extra period, just after Canada was whistled for hooking, Coyne rushed in on Douville and shot the puck into the top left corner at 6:47.

NOTES: Kendall Coynewas named U.S. Player of the Game ... Canada held the 40-32 shots advantage ... The United States was 1-for-6 on the power play, while holding Canada scoreless on seven attempts ... The United States swept the Directorate Awards, with Amanda Kessel earning the Top Forward award, Alev Kelterbeing named Top Defenseman and Alex Rigsby garnering Top Goaltender accolades ... Coyne, Brianna Decker and Kessel were named the top three players for Team USA ... Team USA outscored opponents by a 58-4 margin in the tournament ... Kessel led the tournament with 19 points (6-13) in five games. Coyne finished second with 15 points (8-7) ... Joining Mark Johnson on the coaching staff as assistant coaches were Katie King, head women’s ice hockey coach at Boston College, and Jeff Giesen, head women’s ice hockey coach at St. Cloud State University.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 1 1 0 1 -- 3
CAN 0 1 1 0 -- 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, Ammerman (Decker), 18:14. Penalties: USA, Kelter (body checking), 10:11; USA, Packer (slashing), 11:00; CAN, Lacquette (roughing), 11:00; CAN, Kingsbury (tripping), 13:51.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA, Wasylk (Coyne, Bozek), 4:28; 3, CAN, Daoust (Poulin), 18:35. Penalties: CAN, Frykas (tripping), 5:58; USA, Mangene (holding), 6:12; USA, Kenyon (slashing), 14:26; USA, Kessel (slashing), 16:21; USA, Kelter (misconduct), 18:16.

Third Period - Scoring: 4, CAN, Wong (Fratkin, Campbell), 12:37. Penalties: CAN, Fratkin (interference), :16; USA, Bolden (body checking), 4:56; CAN, Langan (roughing), 7:25; USA, Bolden (tripping), 8:36; CAN, McKeough (interference), 13:58; USA, Wasylk (slashing), 15:59.

Overtime - Scoring: 5, USA, Coyne (Bozek), 6:47. Penalties: CAN, Fratkin (hooking), 6:24.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 OT Total
USA 13 9 3 7 32
CAN 10 18 10 2 40
           
Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 OT Total
USA, Rigsby, 60:00 10-10 18-17 10-9 2-2 40-38
CAN, Douville, 60:00 13-12 9-8 3-3 7-6 32-29

Power Play: USA 1-6; CAN 0-7
Penalties: USA 9-26; CAN 7-14
Officials: Referee-Erin Blair (USA); Linesmen-Annika Floeden (SWE), Michaela Kudelova (SVK)