Canada crushes Yanks

Women pass pre-Olympic test

TURIN— The Canadian women’s hockey team stood on the ice at Palasport Olimpico to receive gold medals yesterday hoping to do the same Feb. 20, which is the day of the Olympic women’s hockey final at the same venue. Canada hammered world champion U. S. 7- 0 in the final of a pre-Olympic tournament in one of the most lopsided scores in the history of the rivalry between the two women’s hockey powers.

Barring a major upset at the Games, the match was a preview of the Olympic gold- medal contest.

“ Hopefully it does give the girls a good visual, a good feeling about this building and this facility and maybe that ache in their gut that they want to do it in February when everything is on the line,” Canadian head coach Melody Davidson said.

Hayley Wickenheiser of Shaunavon, Sask., and Katie Weatherston of Thunder Bay, Ont., led Canada with two goals each. Dana Antal of Esterhazy, Sask., Jayna Hefford of Kingston, Ont., and Cassie Campbell of Brampton also scored. Kim St. Pierre stopped 16 shots for her second straight shutout against the U. S. The goaltender from Chateauguay, Que., turned away 24 in Canada’s 5- 0 victory on Thursday. Montreal forward Caroline Ouellette was named tournament MVP and was also selected to the all-star team along with Wickenheiser and St. Pierre. The Canadian team’s record against the U. S. in this run- up to the Games is 6- 0, which so far is in contrast to its record against the Americans heading into the Games in 2002, when Canada lost eight in a row to them before prevailing for Olympic gold.

“ There’s three months left of preparation, we have a few things to work on and we know the Americans will be a better team then,” St. Pierre said. “ But as a team this week, we played amazingly. We were able to dominate the States two games in a row so we’re very happy, but we don’t take anything for granted.” The U. S. has not scored a goal against Canada in its last three games as Charline Labonte earned the shutout in a 6- 0 victory in Saskatoon on Oct. 8. The Americans’ offence sputtered during this tournament with four goals in three games.

“ We have to try to step up everything,” U. S. head coach Ben Smith said.