Canada 4-1 Sweden 
Olympic Gold Medal Game
Palasport Olimpico, Turin 
Monday, February 20, 2006

It seemed only appropriate that fears of another repeat women’s Gold Medal Game between bitter rivals Canada and the U.S. would occur for a third straight Olympics – but thanks to the heroics of Sweden relegating the Americans to the bronze medal game, for the first time a new contender emerged.

But there would be no repeat heroics, as Canada pounded Tre Kronor 4-1 to win their second straight Olympic Gold Medal, and to cap off a perfect Olympics with the International Hockey Lineal Championship.

Canada began its domination early, with Gillian Apps and Caroline Ouellette providing early tallies for Team Canada, in a period dominated by Canada, highlighted by the 11-2 shot tally after twenty minutes. Swedish netminder Kim Martin played her heart out, providing a number of key saves, but the powerful offense of Canada, and the lacking defence of Tre Kronor, was just too much to handle, as Cherie Piper and Hayley Wickenheiser scored within 90 seconds of each other midway through the third period to put Canada up 4-0 after two, outshooting the Swedes 22-5 after forty minutes.

Small luck would strike for Sweden in the third, as Gunilla Anderson scored a power play tally with a blast from the blueline that beat Charline Labonté to bring the score to 4-1 – however, this was only Sweden’s eighth shot after 45 minutes of play, and would prove to be their last of the game. Even with Canada taking two more penalties, the Swedes couldn’t muster another shot, and while Sweden could certainly revel in an unexpected Silver medal, this game was Canada’s to begin with. This marked Canada’s second consecutive Olympic gold medal, providing needed solace to a nation stunned over the men’s team’s shocking early exit from the tournament after winning Gold just four years earlier.

With the win, Canada unifies the Olympic Gold and IHLC for the second consecutive Olympics, and the third straight Games where the Gold and IHLC are combined – for more, check out the IHLC @ Olympics & Invitationals page. Canada captures the IHLC, their 17th title, from a stunning Swedish squad that upset the Americans in the Semifinals to win their first ever IHLC. Team USA brought the IHLC to Turin, after winning from Canada in a New Year’s Day exhibition game, defeating Switzerland, Germany and Finland to reach the medal round. This also marks the only Olympics to date where Canada and the Americans have not played each other at all during an Olympic tournament, finals or otherwise.

BOXSCORE
1st Period
03:15 –  GOAL – Apps (Wickenheiser)
03:39 –  PEN – Jansson, holding
12:13 –  GOAL – Ouellette (Hefford, Botterill)
13:18 –  PEN – Asserholt, tripping
15:14 –  PEN – Apps, slashing

2nd Period
28:58 –  GOAL – Piper (Wickenheiser, Pounder)
30:27 –  GOAL – Hefford (Botterill, Vallancourt)
31:14 –  PEN – too many players
35:37 –  PEN – Sostorics, interference

3rd Period
44:29 –  PEN – Ouellette, body checking
45:24 –  PP GOAL – G. Andersson (Holst, Rooth)
51:02 –  PEN – Campbell, holding
58:10 –  PEN – Wickenheiser, cross checking

GOALTENDERS
W:  Labonté (7-8)
L:  Martin (22-26)

SHOTS ON GOAL
 11+11+4 = 26
 2+3+3 = 8

ROSTERS
 Goaltenders: Charline Labonté, Kim St-Pierre. Defence: Gillian Ferrari, Becky Kellar, Carla MacLeod, Cheryl Pounder, Colleen Sostorics. Forwards: Meghan Agosta, Gillian Apps, Jennifer Botterill, Cassie Campbell (C), Danielle Goyette, Jayna Hefford, Gina Kingsbury, Caroline Ouellette, Cherie Piper, Vicky Sunohara (A), Sarah Vaillancourt, Katie Weatherston, Hayley Wickenheiser (A).
 Goaltenders: Cecilia Andersson, Kim Martin. Defence: Gunilla Andersson (A), Jenni Asserholt, Joa Elfsberg, Emma Eliasson, Ylva Lindberg. Forwards: Ann-Louise Edstrand, Erika Holst (C), Nanna Jansson, Jenny Lindqvist, Kristina Lundberg, Frida Nevalainen, Emilie O’Konor, Maria Rooth (A), Danijela Rundqvist, Therese Sjölander, Katarina Timglas, Anna Vikman, Pernilla Winberg.

CANADA	vs.	SWEDEN (C)
new champion (previous 01/01/2006)	Last Title	reign ends (since 02/17/2006)
132	All-Time Wins	1
35 wins	Head-To-Head (+ 1 tie)	0 wins
First IHLC Meeting (CAN vs. SWE)  CAN 4-0 SWE  – 04/25/1987 – WWT – North York
Previous IHLC Meeting (CAN vs. SWE)  CAN 6-2 SWE  – 12/13/2005 – EX – Calgary
Last IHLC Game  SWE 3-2 USA  (SO) – 02/17/2006 – OG – Turin
Next IHLC Game  CAN 3-0 USA  – 11/07/2006 – FNC – Kitchener

Photo Credit: Olympic.org – IIHF – HHOF – IOC