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Canadian women warm up with 7-0 thrashing of Kazakstan
Experts predict a showdown with Team USA
By Zack Van Eyck
Deseret News Olympic specialist
WEST VALLEY CITY — Hayley Wickenheiser wears No. 22 for Team Canada, but some opponents could be confused.
Considering the dizzying speed and creative moves the 23-year-old forward uses to skate around them, they might assume they've developed a case of double vision.
Some of those opponents play for Team Kazakstan — like the one Wickenheiser beat in the face-off circle, then blew past to pick up the loose puck and flip it into the net for Canada's first goal Monday in a 7-0 win at the E Center.
Kazakhstan goaltender Natalya Trunova might believe 22 is the number of shots Wickenheiser fired at her in the opening game of the 2002 Winter Games women's ice hockey tournament. The scrappy Trunova faced a total of 66 Canadian shots, one of them literally — a second-period slap shot by Cherie Piper struck her squarely in the face mask.
In fact, Wickenheiser had just five shots on goal. But she made two of them count — the unassisted goal less than three minutes into the game and a second-period goal on a long-range slap shot. The second one came after Wickenheiser was tripped up at the blue line by a Kazakstan player, then hustled to her skates, found the puck and fired.
"I think I have, at times, the ability to change the course of the game by maybe a simple play or anything out on the ice," said Wickenheiser, a two-time invitee to the annual rookie camp for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
"I think that's what the strength of my game is and what I'm counted on to do."
Wickenheiser was her country's second-leading scorer as a 19-year-old in the '98 Olympics, and her skill and determination may be just what top-seeded Team Canada needs to win this tournament. The Canadians won the World Championship without her last year while Wickenheiser was nursing an injury. But after losing all eight pre-Olympic games it played against second-seeded and defending Olympic champion Team USA, Canada needs someone to step up big.
"I think if I'm playing well and making things happen and getting lots of chances, then that will come," the Calgary resident said of being among the tournament's leading scorers. "But our goal as a team is ultimately to win the gold medal."
Wickenheiser added an assist on Danielle Goyette's third-period goal. Vicki Sunohara, an assistant captain along with Wickenheiser, also scored a pair of goals. Five of the Canadians' goals were scored on the power play, a part of their game they've been hoping to improve after subpar special-teams performances against the U.S. this season.
"I don't think it was our best game," Wickenheiser said. "I think we played average. We should have buried some chances that we did have. But for our first game and nine (Olympic) rookies that were a little bit nervous, I think everybody was pretty happy with the effort."
Everybody, including members of Team Kazakstan, which lost to Canada 11-0 in last April's World Championships.
"I don't think it's a shame to lose against Canada, it's an honor," said Kazakhstan coach Alexandr Maltsev.
Maltsev was particularly pleased with the play of Trunova, who ended up being cheered by the pro-Canadian crowd as she continued to make impressive saves late in the game.
"I thought we made her look good a lot," Wickenheiser said of Trunova. "There was a lot of rebounds that we could have capitalized on and a lot of times we just shot right in her stomach. She didn't give up, that's for sure."
Canada is projected to meet the U.S. in the gold medal game Feb. 21. Team USA plays its first game Tuesday against Germany.
Sweden 3, Russia 2
At Provo, fourth-seeded Sweden claimed a 3-0 lead early in the second period and held on to beat fifth-seeded Russia.
Kristina Bergstrand scored what proved to be the game-winner for the Swedes, who outshot the Russians 44-14.
With the victory, Sweden avenged a loss to Russia in last year's World Championships and likely assured itself of a spot in the medal round. Sweden needs only to beat eighth-seeded Kazakhstan in order to advance, unless Russia can upset Canada on Wednesday.
E-MAIL: zman@desnews.com
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February 12, 2002
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