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The Record

TEAM CANADA SLAMS SWISS

By Christine Rivet Record staff
Team Switzerland goalie Patricia Sautter was sweating bullets Monday
night, while Canadian netminder Danielle Dube was working up a sweat
from lack of work.As it turned out, Dube could have stayed home. While
her Team Canada teammates scored six goals on 61 shots the Swiss
managed just five shots at Dube --not enough to win even if the
Canadian net had been left unguarded.

The outcome was a 6-0 win for the three-time defending champion
Canadians during opening night play at the Women's World Hockey
Championships at Kitchener's Dom Cardillo Arena.

Earlier in the day, the United States knocked off Norway 7-0 in
Kitchener, China beat Russia 6-2 in Hamilton and Finland won 5-0 over
Sweden in Brampton.

"If you forget about the last two minutes, that was an awesome game
for us," said France Montour, Switzerland's head coach and a former
Canadian national team player. Her club surrendered three
late-in-the-game goals.

Even though the game was played almost entirely in their own end, Team
Switzerland, the eight-team world tournament's last seed, was in
contention until Canada's late outburst as Sautter played the game of
her life.

"She's a good goalie. Tonight, she proved she can do it under
pressure," said Montour.

At the other end and, before 3,889 spectators, Dube was frightfully
unbusy, encountering her first shot nearly seven minutes into the
second period. Ice cold, Dube stopped Team Swiss captain Jeanette
Marty on a breakaway for her second shot, some 10 minutes after that.

But a flukey Swiss goal was a genuine concern, Dube said.

"With all the excitement and the fans, it keeps you in the game," said
Dube, of Vancouver. "To stay focused, I did a play-by-play in my head
to make it as exciting as possible. I even added a few shots that
didn't come my way."

The Swiss were much improved from their disappointing 6-2 loss to Team
Japan -- a team that did not qualify for the world championships
--during an exhibition game last week.

Strapping 18-year-old right winger Hayley Wickenheiser paced the
Canucks Monday with a goal and an assist.

Canada's other scorers included Vicky Sunohara, Danielle Goyette,
Nancy Drolet, Angela James and Rebecca Fahey.

"It was a respectable game and a respectable score," said Canadian
head coach Shannon Miller. "It was tough to get a rhythm going when
the team you face (the Swiss) iced the puck and covered it up
continually."

Canada meets the defending European champions from Russia tonight.
Game time at the Cardillo Arena is 7:30 p.m.

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