URL:http://www.globeandmail.com/docs/news/19970402/Sport/SHOWO.html GLOBEnet CANADIAN WOMEN ROMP AT WORLD HOCKEY TOURNEY Russians were determined, but unable to keep up with high-flying Nagano-bound Canadians Wednesday, April 2, 1997 By Beverley Smith Sport Reporter The Russian women's hockey team had never played against Canada--until last night at their first world championship. They had their eyes opened before a sellout crowd of about 6,000. Led by 31-year-old veteran Stacy Wilson, the Canadians swooped down upon a passionate Russian team and won 9-1, outshooting the Russians 56-7. The Canadians' victory, their second in the tournament, ensured they would finish no worse than second in their pool and guaranteed a berth for the 1998 Olympic Games only 10 months away. Danielle Goyette refused to let that fact ruffle her, however. "We have a training camp in September and we still have to make the team," she said. "You never know what's going to happen." Goyette scored one goal last night and assisted on another. Wilson was chosen the most valuable player for Canada after scoring one goal and assisting on two others. If the Canadians were pleased by the fruits of their labours, 26-year-old veteran Vicky Sunohara was beaming. Sunohara contributed a goal to Canada's win over Switzerland on Monday, and she also scored Canada's second goal last night against the Russians. Sunohara was a member of the Canadian team that won the first world championship in 1990, but was cut from the squad in 1992. That team won but Sunohara felt lost, and did not even consider trying out for the 1994 team. "I'm very excited to be back," she said after her seven-year absence. "What is making me play with confidence are all the players around me." The Canadians could have made the score 11-1 last night, but two goals were called back in the first period, once because the scorer redirected the puck into the net with her skate, the other because a Canadian skater was in the crease. But the Russian women, new to the game, fought to the finish. "We knew the Russians would be tough," Sunohara said. "We watched a videotape of them when they played China [earlier this week]. It was obvious that they were big, fast and they were tought along the boards. We were prepared." Sunohara noted that the Russians were very fast skaters, and last night they tended to ice the puck. "But I think they had a little bit better puck movement than the Swiss," she said. And the Russians were determined. They spent far more time in the penalty box than the Canadians. In the first period, during which they were whistled for three penalties, they failed to get a shot on goal. Things got chippy in the third period, too, with calls for bodychecking, tripping and boarding. When they stayed out of the penalty box in the second period, they managed five shots on goal. "Technically [the Russians] skated well," Canadian assistant coach Daniele Sauvageau said. "They handled the puck well. But they have to work on their offensive side." Still, the Russians have improved immensely since Sauvageau saw them play Quebec two years ago. "They have improved far quicker than we thought," she said. "They have a great future." Russian coach Valentin Egorov said the Canadian women played as well as the Canadian men, with great speed and skill. Canada's goals came from nine players: Jayna Hefford of Kingston, Ont., Sunohara of Scarborough, Ont., Luce Letendre of Brossard, Que., Wilson of Moncton, N.B., Laura Schuler of Scarborough, Hayley Wickenheiser of Calgary, Karen Nystrom of Scarborough, Goyette of St-Nazaire, Que., and veteran France St. Louis of St-Hubert, Que, who played despite a broken right wrist. At other venues, Finland played to a surprising 3-3 tie with the United States last night, setting up the possibility that the United States could meet Canada in the semi-finals. Canada and the United States are considered the two most powerful teams at the world championships. China overwhelmed Switzerland 11-2 while Sweden and Norway played to a scrappy 2-2 tie, keeping alive a long rivalry. "It's always tough between Norway and Sweden," Swedish blueliner Pernilla Burholm said. "When we play, I guess we hit each other. It's always like that. We have a rivalry in all sports and in economics, money, whatever." The Swedes, surprise winners of the European championship last year, outshot Norway 28-23. Swedish coach Bengt Ohlson said his players had difficulty adjusting to the National Hockey League-sized rinks in Canada, despite beating Japan 10-2 in an exhibition game last week. Japan, which failed to qualify for these world championships, automatically gains entry into the 1998 Olympics as the host country. A Japanese team is in Kitchener this week, scouting out the competition. The Russian starC10 Copyright (c) 1997, The Globe and Mail Company ® All rights reserved.