2011 Canada Winter Games
Team Alberta Female wins gold
Team Alberta U18 Female defeated Team Ontario 3-2 to capture the Gold Medal in female hockey at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
After a scoreless first period, Alberta came out of the gates flying in the second. Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary) opened the scoring at the 6:08 mark. Less than a minute later Brittney Fouracres (Airdrie) found the back of the net giving Alberta a 2-0 go-ahead. Panchuk would add another marker late in the frame putting Alberta up 3-0 heading into the third. Ontario would not roll over, pulling within one, but it was too little too late. Alberta would hang on for the final three minutes battling off Ontario’s last minute strike to hold on to the victory.
This is Team Alberta Female’s first Gold Medal at the Canada Winter Games since 1991 when they won with a team led by Hayley Wickenheiser.
Panchuk led the tournament in scoring with 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) while Team Alberta goaltenders Emerence Maschmeyer (Bruderheim) and Courtney Vinet (Camrose) only allowed a total of five goals against in seven games played throughout the tournament.
Team Alberta finished the round robin 4-0. They defeated P.E.I. 12-0 in the placement round and Saskatchewan 6-2 in the semi finals.
GAME SUMMARIES:
Team Alberta 6 - Saskatchewan 2
Panchuk, Katy Josephs (Calgary), Heather Kashman (Edmonton), Melissa Kueber (St. Albert), Erika Sowchuk (Cochrane) and Amy Helfrich (Cochrane) all found the net for the home team. Maschmeyer won her 3rd consecutive game in the net for Team Alberta.
Team Alberta 12 – Team PEI 0
Team Alberta had leads of 2-0 and 9-0 after the first two periods, on route to a 12-0 victory. Karlee Odland (Vauxhall) led the way with 3 goals, Kueber and Sowchuk chipped in with 2 a piece while Helfrich, Sam Sutherland (Cochrane), Panchuk, Eden Murray (Medicine Hat) and Jessica Kampjes (Bon Accord) all had singles in the win. Panchuk and Helfrich also had 3 assists. Vinet recorded her 2nd shutout of the tournament.
Team Alberta 4 – Team Ontario 1
Taryn Baumgardt (Innisfail), Sowchuk, Kueber and Odland scored for Alberta with Vinet stopping 32 shots for the victory. Team Alberta finished the round robin in 1st place in their pool with a record of 4-0.
Team Alberta 3 – Team Saskatchewan 0
Kashman,Taylor Sakundiak (Calgary) and Josephs scored the goals. Maschmeyer recorded her second consecutive shutout turning away 22 shots, while Team Alberta threw 28 shots on the opposition.
Team Alberta 10 – Team Newfoundland 0
Panchuk (4), Kampjes, Kashman, Kueber, Odland, Sowchuk, and Josephs would find the twine. Panchuk finished the game with 6 points, while linemates Kampjes and Kueber had 5 and 3 points respectively. Vinet made 9 saves to earn the shutout victory while Team Alberta peppered the Newfoundland goaltenders with 67 shots on goal.
Team Alberta 4 – Team BC 0
Josephs, Panchuk, Kueber and Sutherland had the Alberta goals, and Maschmeyer made 18 saves for the shutout. Team Alberta would throw 34 shots at the Team BC goaltender.
