The Ottawa Sun
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TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
CANADA CAPTURES THREE NATIONS CUP
October 28, 1996


URL: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSports/9610280012.html
     http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaSports/22_s1.html


By CHRIS STEVENSON
Ottawa Sun OTTAWA -- Team Canada wrapped itself in the Canadian flag
and thumbed its nose at the U.S. yesterday - which left some American
noses out of joint.
 After barely beating the U.S. 1-0 in the final of the Three Nations
Cup at Ottawa Civic Centre, the Canadian women milled around their
blue line, some wrapped in Canadian flags, others with fingers
upthrust, playing to the crowd.
 CANADA 1, USA 0
 Some Canadian players even had cameras on the ice, capturing the
moment.
 "It's not fun to watch them (celebrate)," said American goaltender
Erin Whitten, who was outstanding in the game, beaten only by Canada's
Nancy Deschamps on a rebound.
 "They overdo it just a tad to rub it in. We're going to do the same
when we win."
 Which might not be that far off, unless the bean counters and deep
thinkers at Canadian Hockey decide the women's program is worthy of a
little more money.
 The Americans served notice they are finally on a level playing
surface this week. They beat Canada for the first time, a 2-1 OT win
in Smiths Falls Thursday, and lost two one-goal decisions. The U.S.
was able to level that surface with a lot of greenbacks. The Americans
got together for three weeks before this tournament.
 Team Canada, on a shoestring budget, was making cuts a day before
the tourney started - an ominous sign with the 1998 Olympic Winter
Games in Nagano just 15 months off.
 "The gap has been closed," Team Canada head coach Shannon Miller
warned. "They are still a talented team and now they are spending four
times as much time together as we are. We need to sit down and make
some decisions here. We have to decide how important a gold medal is."
 Which makes a lot of people wonder why Canadian Hockey is paying to
have a coach, assistants and a national men's team which merely serves
as a stand-in for three years until the NHLers take their place for
the real show in Nagano.
 The Americans, meanwhile, grow more confident and yesterday's
Canadian celebration feeds their rage.
 "We've caught up to Canadian hockey," Whitten said. "It's not going
to be a one-sided affair anymore."
 It wasn't yesterday, not with U.S. forward Cammi Granato jamming at
a puck beside the Canadian net as time expired.
 The siren to end the game was a relief for the Canadian Hockey suits
sitting behind the Canadian net.
 It should also be the first of a few alarm bells.
 [1]TORONTO SUN / OTTAWA SUN

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