Canada 6-3 Finland 
Four Nations Cup Gold Medal Game
1980 Herb Brooks Arena, Lake Placid 
Saturday, November 9, 2013

Facing an unlikely foe for Gold at the 2013 Four Nations Cup, Canada dispatched Finland for the second time in the tournament to win Four Nations Cup Gold, their first since 2010, and retain the International Hockey Lineal Championship.

Facing a far easier opponent than Team USA, Canada turned its attention to offense, opening the scoring early with a Jenelle Kohanchuk tally just two minutes in to take the 1-0 lead. However, Finland quickly retaliated with a Riikka Villilä goal, surprising Canadian netminder Charline Labonté and evening things at 1-1. However, Canada was able to recover from the quick shock, tallying goals from Vicki Bendus, Jennifer Wakefield and Brianne Jenner in the following eight minutes, peppering Noora Räty with 19 first period shots for a 4-1 lead after twenty.

While outshooting Finland 17-7 in the second, the Naisleijonat held their own defensively, killing off four penalties and scoring a power play goal of their own, with Anna Kilponen converting on a Bailey Bram penalty to make things 4-2. Räty stood on her head in the second and third periods, but Team Canada was simply too much for one person, as Kohanchuk got her second on the night during an early third period power play to make things 5-2. While Susanna Tapani was able to get Finland’s second power play goal on the night, Labonte was sharp when she needed to be, and a late Haley Irwin goal sealed the Gold for Canada, their 13th in Four Nations Cup history.

With the victory, Canada completes its sweep of the Four Nations Cup, winning all four games to retain their 29th IHLC, which it won from Team USA in an exhibition game in October. Finland and Canada met in the Cup opening game, with Canada taking the game 3-1, before defeating the U.S. and Sweden en route to the Gold Medal Game. Canada will next face the United States in a pre-Olympic exhibition game in Calgary on December 12.

BOXSCORE
1st Period
02:25 –  GOAL – Kohanchuk (Bendus, Lacquette)
06:19 –  GOAL – Villilä (Lindstedt)
07:37 –  GOAL – Bendus (Birchard)
08:29 –  PEN – Irwin, body checking
08:42 –  PEN – Karvinen, tripping
09:31 –  GOAL – Wakefield (Daoust)
10:13 –  PEN – Lindstedt, boarding
15:26 –  GOAL – Jenner (Bram, Agosta)
18:12 –  PEN – Jenner, tripping
18:37 –  PEN – Birchard, holding

2nd Period
20:08 –  PEN – Bram, slashing
24:38 –  PEN – Kilponen, tripping
30:55 –  PEN – Villilä, tripping
32:33 –  PEN – Räty, delay of game
37:02 –  PEN – Bram, slashing
37:38 –  PP GOAL – Kilponen (Nieminen, Lindstedt)
40:00 –  PEN – Karvinen, body checking

3rd Period
40:46 –  PP GOAL – Kohanchuk (Bendus, Ward)
46:34 –  PEN – Lacquette, tripping
46:49 –  PP GOAL – Tapani (Hiirikoski, Karvinen)
53:39 –  PEN – Bram, delay of game
59:54 –  GOAL – Irwin (Johnston, Hefford)

GOALTENDERS
W:  Labonté (19-22)
L:  Räty (39-45)

SHOTS ON GOAL
 19+17+9 = 45
 5+7+10 = 22

ROSTERS
 Goaltenders: Charline Labonté, Geneviève Lacasse, Shannon Szabados. Defence: Courtney Birchard, Tessa Bonhomme, Brigette Lacquette, Jocelyne Larocque, Catherine Ward (A), Tara Watchorn. Forwards: Meghan Agosta, Gillian Apps, Vicki Bendus, Bailey Bram, Mélodie Daoust, Jayna Hefford (C), Haley Irwin (A), Brianne Jenner, Rebecca Johnston, Jenelle Kohanchuk, Natalie Spooner, Jennifer Wakefield.
 Goaltenders: Meeri Räisänen, Noora Räty, Eveliina Suonpää. Defence: Jenni Hiirikoski (C), Mira Jalosuo, Anna Kilponen, Emma Laaksonen (A), Rosa Lindstedt, Isa Rahunen, Saija Tarkki (A), Tea Villilä. Forwards: Venla Hovi, Michelle Karvinen, Riikka Nieminen, Tanja Niskanen, Emma Nuutinen, Karolina Rantamäki, Saila Saari, Vilma Tanskanen, Susanna Tapani, Nina Tikkinen, Minnamari Tuominen, Linda Välimäki.

Photo Credit: Canada.com – IIHF – HHOF – IOC