URL:http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSports/08_s2.html

April 6, 1997

DRAMA LIFTS CANADA
                                    
LAST-MINUTE GOAL BY SUNOHARA WINS IT
  
By STEVE BUFFERY
Toronto Sun KITCHENER -- Vicky Sunohara, who works at a Mississauga
soft drink company, put some fizz in Team Canada's offence at just the
right time yesterday.
  With just 24 seconds left and the score tied 1-1, Sunohara received
a perfect pass from teammate Geraldine Heaney on a two-on-one and
deked Finnish goaltender Tuula Puputti for a goal and a 2-1 victory at
the women's world hockey championship.
  The semi-final win gave Canada a berth in tonight's gold medal game
against the United States (8 p.m., TSN). It also maintained Canada's
unbeaten streak at the world championships and sent the Finns into the
bronze medal match against Team China.
  Sunohara, who has four goals in the tournament, sent the Kitchener
Memorial Auditorium crowd of 4,903 into a frenzy with her last-minute
heroics.
  "I don't know if Geraldine has eyes in the back or side of her head,
but she saw me," said the relieved forward, who almost quit hockey
after being cut from the 1992 world team.
  Canada outshot the determined Finns 36-20, but Canadian goaltender
Lesley Reddon was forced to make some key saves late in the game to
preserve the tie.
  "That's what you play for, situations like that," the Fredericton
native said. "It's all part of the fun of being a goaltender."
  Canadian coach Shannon Miller's opening comment following the match
was simply "whew", but that summed up the last minute of play. Shortly
after Sunohara's goal, with 17 seconds left and goaltender Puputti
heading towards the bench, Team Canada forward Lori Dupuis took a
hooking penalty, setting up a six-woman to four situation.
  With the clock counting down and the Finns swarming the offensive
zone, captain Stacy Wilson blocked a hard shot from the point and
Canada, the three-time defending champions, survived their only scare
of the tournament.
  Finland jumped into a 1-0 lead after a strong first period on a
power-play goal by defenceman Kirsten Haenninen, the only time in four
games Canada was out-played in the first.
  "I don't think we had enough respect for our opponent in the first
period," said Miller, who forced her team to view a motivational tape
between the first and second periods.
  as Team Canada responded by out-shooting Finland 16-3 in the second,
although they only managed one goal, a rebound score by young
superstar Hayley Wickenheiser of Calgary.
  Sunohara said the video, which included Team Canada highlights from
the last three worlds, inspired the troops.
  "There were tears in our eyes," said the personable forward, who has
been an offensive fireplug all tournament despite a displaced bone in
her left wrist. "And fire in the dressing room after the video."
  "I think our team has learned to hate losing hockey games," Finland
coach Rauno Korpi said. "And maybe that means good things for the
future."
  In the other semi-final, Team USA defeated China 6-0.

CANOE home | We welcome your feedback.
Copyright © 1997, Canoe Limited Partnership.
All rights reserved.