URL:http://www.globeandmail.com/docs/news/19970401/Sport/SHOKI.html GLOBEnet [Welcome to GLOBEnet..]___ Welcome to the News Section U.S. CHECKS NORWAY American women win hockey opener Tuesday, April 1, 1997 By Beverley Smith Sport Reporter The rule banning bodychecking in women's hockey strips the fun from the game, Inger Lise Fagernes, the frustrated Norwegian captain, maintains. The rule hurt yesterday, Fagernes said, because it prevented Norway from challenging the speedy, talented U.S. team at the women's world hockey championship. The United States toyed with the Norwegians, defeating them 7-0 and outshooting them 52 to nine on the opening day of the tournament. The goals were scored by six players. Shelley Looney, a 25-year-old from Trenton, Mich., scored the first and last goals of the game. The Americans showed speed, accurate passing and deft stickhandling, demonstrating why they offer the greatest threat to the Canadians, who are going after their fourth consecutive world championship. Norway offered no serious threat to the Americans. Coach Torbjorn Orskaug said the U.S. players are so talented and swift, they were always the first to get the puck. Women's hockey is still a minor sport in Norway, with only about 200 players, Fagernes said. Most of the women have to play on boys' teams, where bodychecking is the rule. "We think we could have done better [with bodychecking]," Fagernes said. "We could have stopped the U.S. players more, because they are such good skaters. . . . They are so fast, we have to do that to keep up with them. "We are playing girls against girls. Why can't we play the way the boys play? What is the problem here? We have the same equipment." Fagernes, who regularly plays against boys, said they are tough when it comes to bodychecking. But she thinks that's fun. "We are no different," Fagernes said. "We have met girls who are no different. They are as tough as we are." Fagernes said officials at the European championship met all team captains to discuss allowing bodychecking and every team except the Finns wanted to include it. Although bodychecking wasn't permitted, Fagernes said referees looked the other way when they saw it. She said she believed the world championship this week allowed bodychecking and was surprised to find that it did not. The Norwegians took some early penalties yesterday. "We had some goals against us there," Fagernes said. "The U.S. is really good at 5-4 plays." The first penalty of the game was against Norwegian player Jeanette Giortz for bodychecking. In the second period, the United States' Vicki Movsessian was sent to the penalty box for the same offence. The United States dominated the first period until Laurie Baker was sent to the sidelines with a four-minute slashing penalty. Norway seemed to take heart, scrambling, racing and fighting for the puck. Even with the power play, however, the Norwegians got only two shots on U.S. goalie Erin Whitten in the first period while the Americans had 17. The final period was even more lopsided. While the United States had 23 shots on the frazzled Norwegian goalie, tiny Erika Wagner, the Norwegians managed only three. Even though the United States dominated, coach Ben Smith said for the first five to eight minutes his team was "a little bit tight" and anxious. "Coming in here and eliminating scoring chances was our top priority," he said. They succeeded yesterday. _________________________________ Copyright (c) 1997, The Globe and Mail Company . All rights reserved.