The Ottawa Sun
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Canada 4, Finland 1
Canada beats Finland in tournament opener
October 20, 1996

URL: http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaSports/19_s3.html


OTTAWA (CP) -- Leslie Reddon made 25 saves to lift Canada to a 4-1
victory over Finland in the opener of the women's Three Nations Cup
tournament Sunday night.

"It was a solid first effort and as the week goes along we'll build
from here," said the Mississauga, Ont., goaltender.

Fiona Smith of Edmonton, Angela James of Thornhill, Ont., Isabelle
Chartrand of Anjou, Que., and Karen Nystrom of Toronto scored Canada's
goals. Sari Fisk was the only Finn to get a puck pat Reddon.

After a scoreless opening period, Smith and James scored before the
six-minute mark of the second and Chartrand made it 3-0 at 7:48 of the
third.

Tonight, Canada plays the United States in Cornwall, Ont. The eight-day
tournament wraps up with a championship game Sunday afternoon at the
Ottawa Civic Centre.

This is the first of only two major women's tournaments before the 1998
Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where women's hockey will be an official
medal sport for the first time.  For players such as Chartrand, 18,
competing in the Olympics would be a dream come true.

"I'm just so happy," she said after scoring her first goal for Canada.
"I wanted to get the puck off the boards to one of the forwards in
front of the net.

"I then decided just to shoot." Chartrand said she didn't know what to
expect heading into camp but she was in good shape and confident she
could do well.

"We've got a lot of heart on this team," said Chartrand. "The biggest
difference (at this level) is the speed of the game."

Coach Shannon Miller was pleased with the effort.  "Our hearts were
pounding and our upper bodies were too tight, hence the poor puck
control," Miller said of the team's slow start. "We loosened up in the
second period.  "We anticipated the Finns would give us a tough game.
They play with a lot of emotion. And that's what they gave us. We had
to be on our toes defensively."

Reddon was named the game MVP for Canada.  Hockey fans would recognize
some familiar last names on the Canadian team.  Forward Hayley
Wickenheiser is a second cousin of former Montreal Canadiens
first-round draft pick Doug Wickenheiser while on defence Judy Diduck
is the sister of Gerald Diduck with the Hartford Whalers.

The most prominent member of the Canadian squad, goaltender Manon
Rheaume, is sidelined with a groin injury. Young autograph seekers
sought her out for her signature on everything from hockey cards to the
Canadian flag.

The team also features forward France St. Louis, 38. The St-Hubert,
Que., native has been playing since she was 19, long before there was
anything resembling a national women's hockey team.

"For me it's just great to be a part of this team," said St. Louis.
"This is the strongest team that I've ever played for.   "The calibre
is much more competitive."

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