URL:http://www.globeandmail.com/docs/news/19970405/Sport/SHOKI.html

GLOBEnet

APPROACHING FINNS END CANADIAN WOMEN'S WALTZ
  
Saturday, April 5, 1997
By Doug Smith
Canadian Press

The time has come for Canada's national women's hockey team to turn it
up a notch.

Its waltz through the preliminary round of the world championship is
over. The intensity level will definitely pick up, beginning with
today's semi-final against Finland.

Statistics and history to the contrary--Canada outscored its opponents
22-2 in its first three games and was never threatened--the three-time
champions say they won't take Finland lightly.

"It's just part of the mental training we do," said Cassie Campbell of
Brampton, Ont., one of the team's standouts. "We respect every
opponent and we prepare hard for every game."

And it has paid off. Canada beat China 7-1, Russia 9-1 and Sweden 6-0
in the preliminary round.

Even a 5-1 exhibition win over Finland last week shouldn't be seen as
a preview of today's contest.

"It'll be a lot tougher game, I think," Campbell said. "I think
they'll be a lot better than they were in Barrie."

Finland is generally considered the third-best team at the
eight-country tournament, an event that has further underscored the
disparity among the 20 or so countries with women's hockey programs.

In the preliminary round, Finland tied the United States--which plays
China in the other semifinal--and on Thursday it routed Norway 10-0.

"They can skate really, really well," Canadian coach Shannon Miller
said. "This is the most talented team I've seen from Finland."

However, anything but a Canada-U.S. final tomorrow (8 p.m. EST, TSN)
would be a shock.

"I don't think we'll look past Finland," Campbell said. "In all our
preparation and practice we do just look at one game at a time."

As competition at the world level is practically non-existent for
Canada, which has never lost a world championship game in four
tournaments, the players rely on their domestic training to get ready
for big games.

The talent pool in Canada is so deep that games at home are as good as
or better than most world championship contests.

"The national championships are probably just as competitive as a
Canada-U.S. game," Campbell said. "We've got great teams all across
the country, and we have great games all the time at the provincials
and the nationals."

To prepare for today's game, Miller said she would put her team
through a strenuous off-day workout. She expects Finland to force
Canada to work hard.

We welcome your [8]comments.
Copyright © 1997, The Globe and Mail Company ®
All rights reserved.