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Team Canada Wins Gold
Canada entered the gold medal final in an
unusual position: as a heavy underdog. It was widely believed that the
hometown American team had passed Canada as the most dominant nation in
women's hockey.
 That appeared to be the case after the 1998
Olympics when the Americans defeated Canada for the inaugural women's
Olympic hockey championship. The Americans also went 8-0 vs. Canada in
eight pre-Olympic exhibition games.
That four year old wound was the ultimate
motivation for Team Canada 2002, as captain Cassie Campbell and nine other
returnees from the Nagano games led Canada's charge to a 3-2 upset of the
heavily-favoured Americans in the Winter Games finale.
"I feel so dumb sitting here
crying but I really can't explain how this feels to me right now,"
Campbell told CBC. "It's been four long years of thinking of that
disappointment in '98 and finally bringing the gold medal home to the
country where it belongs, we deserve it."
Caroline Ouellette, Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford scored Canada's
goals, and Kim St-Pierre was outstanding in the nets. Wickenheiser
was named tournament MVP, while Hefford scored the tournament's signature
goal on a last-second breakaway at the end of the middle period.
Canada employed a heavy forecheck, but
referee Stacey Livingston of Utica, N.Y., kept her whistle very busy. She
called eight consecutive penalties against the Canadians during the
opening two periods, giving the Americans ample power play time..
"It was absolutely atrocious," Wickenheiser said of the
officiating.
Added Campbell: "I think that was the worst refereeing I've ever seen
in women's hockey. ... We beat the USA four-on-five and we deserve this
gold medal more than any team."
There was plenty of bad blood between the bitter rivals.
"The Americans had our flag on their floor in the dressing
room," said an emotional Wickenheiser. "And now I want to know
if they want us to sign it. We are so happy."
Women's hockey has come along way in a very short time. The gold medal
final was the premiere event of the day at the Winter Games. Wayne Gretzky
brought his family to the game. Most of the players from the Canadian and
U.S. men's teams were present, as was Canadian figure skating darlings
Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. Singer Alanis Morissette was also in
attendance.
Game Summary
| Box
Score |
Canada |
1
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
| |
United
States |
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
First Period
|
Goals:
CAN • OUELLETTE, Caroline (PIPER, Cherie) 01:45
Penalties:
USA • LOONEY, Shelley 2 min. HOLD 06:17
USA • KENNEDY, Courtney 2 min. ROUGH 10:54
CAN • BOTTERILL, Jennifer 2 min. TRIP 12:15
CAN • WICKENHEISER, Hayley 2 min. DELAY 14:05
CAN • BRISSON, Therese 2 min. BD-CK 17:01
CAN • SUNOHARA, Vicky 2 min. CROSS 17:52
|
Second Period
|
Goals:
USA • KING, Katie (GRANATO, Cammi / MOUNSEY, Tara)
21:59 PP1
CAN • WICKENHEISER, Hayley (GOYETTE, Danielle)
24:10
CAN • HEFFORD, Jayna (KELLAR, Becky / BRISSON,
Therese) 39:59
Penalties:
CAN • KELLAR, Becky 2 min. HOOK 21:11
CAN • OUELLETTE, Caroline 2 min. ROUGH 24:51
CAN • CHARTRAND, Isabelle 2 min. TRIP 31:25
CAN • BOTTERILL, Jennifer 2 min. TRIP 34:03
USA • WENDELL, Krissy 2 min. CHARG 35:37
USA • KENNEDY, Courtney 2 min. ROUGH 38:05
CAN • OUELLETTE, Caroline 2 min. HOLD 38:05 |
Third Period
|
Goals:
USA • BYE, Karyn (MOUNSEY, Tara / POTTER,
Jenny) 56:27 PP1
Penalties :
USA • WALL, Lyndsay 2 min. ROUGH 40:44
CAN • KELLAR, Becky 2 min. ROUGH 41:49
CAN • SOSTORICS, Colleen 2 min. BD-CK 45:02
USA • BAKER, Laurie 2 min. HO-ST 50:56
CAN • DUPUIS, Lori 2 min. HI-ST 50:56
CAN • BECHARD, Kelly 2 min. TRIP 56:04 |
| Goaltenders |
Canada |
ST-PIERRE, Kim |
| |
United
States |
DECOSTA, Sara |
|
| |
|
First
|
Second
|
Third
|
Final
|
| Shots
on Goal by |
Canada |
11
|
9
|
7
|
27
|
| |
United
States |
9
|
10
|
10
|
29
|
|
| Officials |
Referee |
LIVINGSTON,
Stacey
|
| |
Linesmen |
HUJDUSOVA,
Henrieta
SUBAN, Johanna
|
|
| Attendance |
8,599 |
|
