Maschmeyer solid as Canada advances to play U.S. again

SASKATOON Canadian goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer exorcised a painful memory in helping her country advance to the final of the Four Nations Cup women’s hockey tournament.

The 24-year-old from Bruderheim, Alta., posted a 14-save shutout in Canada’s 30 win over Finland on Friday.

It was Maschmeyer’s first international start since giving up three goals on 11 shots and getting pulled in the second period of a preliminaryround game against Finland at the 2017 world championship.

Finland beat Canada for the first time in international women’s hockey that day in a 4-3 decision.

“For me personally, the last time I played them it was not the outcome I wanted and so for me it was a little bit of redemption today,” Maschmeyer said Friday.

“It kind of closes that door and it’s kind of onward and upward now.”

Canada (2-1) wants to wrest one women’s hockey title away from the United States (3-0) when the two countries clash for the gold medal Saturday at the SaskTel Centre.

Finland (1-2) meets Sweden (0-3) for bronze.

The Americans have won three straight Four Nations titles. They’re also the reigning Olympic and world champions.

Hannah Brandt had a goal and an assist and Melissa Samoskevich scored a shorthanded goal for the U.S. in a 5-1 victory over the Swedes earlier Friday.

Daoust and Rebecca Johnston scored in the first 4:55 and Laura Stacey had an empty-net goal for Canada.