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Canadian women win first Three Nations Cup
Late breaking SportsWire Story last updated on Mon Oct 28 11:40:10 EST 1996
October 28, 1996 

URL: http://www.t-o.com/sportswire/amhockey/HKY-Women-Three-Natio.html


- Canadian women have been celebrating international hockey
supremacy for six straight years. They want to keep the run going
for a couple more.

 Nancy Deschamps broke a scoreless tie at 11:30 of the third period
to give Canada a 1-0 win over the United States in the final of the
inaugural Three Nations Cup women's hockey tournament Sunday
afternoon.

 ``For the players who have been here since 1990, we know what
(winning) feels like and we don't want to let that feeling go,''
said Canadian veteran Karen Nystrom of Toronto.

 ``We're the best 27 players in the world for Canada. I think we all
want to be there in Japan (at the 1998 Winter Olympics).''

 Those 1998 Games, when women's hockey becomes a full medal sport,
hovered over this three-country, week-long tournament like an
electrical field.

 The Canadian women's team, with players drawn from Fredericton to
Wilcox, Sask., to Vancouver, has not lost a major international
tournament in the six years such events have been staged.

 Team USA, Canada's chief women's rival, practised as a team for
three weeks before coming to Ottawa. The result: a split of two
games with Canada in the round-robin and an exceedingly close,
rough-and-tumble final. All three U.S.-Canada games this week were
decided by one goal.

 ``Obviously it's not fun to watch them celebrating,'' said U.S.
goaltender Erin Whitten, who was brilliant Sunday in a goaltending
duel with Vancouver's Danielle Dube.

 ``I think they overdo it a tad just to rub it in.''

 Yes, there's a growing edge to this rivalry.

 Murray Costello, president of Canadian Hockey, said it's a sign
that women's hockey is growing roots.

 ``It's one more reinforcing factor that women's hockey is here to
stay,'' he said. ``The real awareness factor will only come when the
Olympic Games take place.''

 About 3,500 flag-waving fans took in the game at the Civic Centre
and they got their five-bucks worth.

 Whitten was outstanding, her only marginal miscue a fat rebound
from a screened slapshot that landed on Deschamp's stick.

 ``I actually had time to think where I was going to put the puck,''
marvelled Deschamps. ``It's incredible to score in the final, that's
all I can say.''

 The Americans outshot Canada 27-20 but it was a highly misleading
statistic.

 This was Canada's game and coach Shannon Miller revelled in the
moment.

 ``It's awesome,'' said Miller.

 ``We've been world champions since 1990. Maybe the day has come
when the men learn from us.''

 After all, Canada's women don't let the Americans slip away with
the hockey hardware.

OTTAWA (CP)

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