Canada’s women’s hockey team runs into a hot goalie in the semifinal.
Canada once again faces Americans for gold with questions surrounding its ‘shaky’ defence
T
he warm-up act is over. Now it’s time for the stars to take the stage.
Monday, the women’s Olympic hockey tournament played out to its inevitable final act when Canada and the USA advanced to Thursday’s gold medal game. In the evening semifinal, Canada subdued a game Swiss side 3-1, while earlier in the day the States crushed Sweden 6-1.
This sets up the latest encounter in the best ongoing rivalry in hockey, and if you doubted that for a minute, you just had to listen to the commentary as the two teams filed through the mixed zone.
“Whoever is on the other side we’re ready to go,” said American goalie Jessie Vetter. “We’re going to play U.S. hockey and we’re going to come out on top. I think we have that attitude.”
“It comes down to one game and anything can happen,” said Canadian sniper Meghan AgostaMarciano. “I think the better team will come out on top and there’s no doubt in my mind it’s going to be us.”
Ladies, touch gloves and come out fighting. Canada, who beat the States 3-2 in pool play, had the harder road to the gold-medal game, largely because the Swiss and their remarkable goalie Florence Schelling didn’t understand they were supposed to be a speed bump for the Maple Leaf on the way to the final. Canada scored three goals on Schelling in their first 12 shots — two by Natalie Spooner and one from Melodie Daoust — and were up 3-0 when Swiss coach Rene Kammerer called a timeout at the 11:33 mark of the first period. From that point, the Swiss outscored Canada 1-0 as Schelling stopped 36 straight Canadian shots in an epic goaltending performance.
“I believe so,” Schelling answered when asked if this was an important game for Swiss hockey. “I even believe it was a very important game for women’s hockey, in general. Losing 3-1 is amazing. It’s a great outcome for us. We’re a little disappointed, obviously, but there’s no time to be disappointed. We have Sweden coming up in the bronze-medal game.”
“I’m proud to be disappointed about losing,” said Kammerer, and we think we know what he means.
The Canadians shelled Schelling with a 48-shot volley and controlled the game for long stretches. But they were also vulnerable to Switzerland’s speed and needed a couple of big saves from Shannon Szabados, particularly on a second-period Swiss power play, to maintain the two-goal margin. With defenceman Meaghan Mikkelson out of the lineup, Canada played with five defencemen. Head coach Kevin Dineen said: “I think our D got a little tuckered out. (Mikkelson) was missed.”
She’ll return to the lineup for the gold-medal game but Canada’s blue-line will remain a talking point, largely because of the intemperate comments of U.S. forward Kelli Stack following the Americans’ one-sided win over Sweden. Stack, who was feeling it all the way around, was asked about the key in a rematch against Canada.
“Our forecheck,” said Stack. “Their D is pretty shaky back there when you give them a lot of pressure. If we end up playing Canada on Thursday, we’re going to try the U.S. forecheck as best we can and make them turn pucks over below the goal-line.”
Actually, that’s pretty close to the truth. The Canadian defence looked vulnerable for stretches of the round-robin game against the States and, again, on Monday night against the Swiss. Still, you don’t offer up bulletin-board material before a gold-medal game.
“Thank you, that’s motivation for us to hear that,” said Canadian captain Caroline Oulette.
“You’re trying to get me to bite,” said Dineen, when Stack’s remark were relayed to him. “Let’s not do that song and dance. To me, we’ve got some of the best players in the world. We come to play every night. The results will speak for themselves.”
Stack, however, wasn’t done. Here was her take on meeting Canada again: “We love playing against the best in the world. I don’t think they can beat us three times in a row, especially with what’s on the line. We’re going to give it everything we have.”
Over to you Hayley Wickenheiser.
“We believe in our room and we like the team we have,” said Canada’s resident institution.
“Today wasn’t our greatest game but we still found a way to win, and that seems to be the way this team has gone. I know everyone is excited to have the opportunity to play for the gold medal.
“We’ve got a lot of players who’ve been through this before and know exactly what has to be done.”
Wickenheiser, in fact, has played in all five Olympic tournaments from Nagano in ’98. Over that time, she has met the Americans five times in Olympic play and countless other times in world championships and friendlies that aren’t very friendly. In ’98, the States won the gold-medal game at the first women’s tournament.
In 2002 and 2010, Canada beat the Americans for the gold. These games represent the best of sports, irrespective of gender, and, deep down — once you get past the 234 layers of hate — there is an abiding respect between the two teams.
Just don’t’ expect them to say it out loud.
“It’s where we wanted to be,” said Wickenheiser.
“We’re ready for this and we had a great run up to this game. But we know we’re going to have to bring our best game.”
“It’s intense,” said American forward Gigi Marvin.
“It’s an awesome battle and you know it’s a battle going in there. They’re bringing their best and you hope you’re bringing your best. Every single athlete loves it when it’s all on the line and you’ve got to give everything and more.
“We’re looking forward to it and we’re ready.”
So are hockey fans all over the world.