GOLD!

York forward Courtney Unruh scored for the third time in her last four starts, as Canada’s women’s hockey team capped off a perfect week on the ice with a 3-1 win over the host Chinese in the gold medal final at the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China.

Unruh’s second period tally stood up as the game winner as the Canadian side made history as the first winners of the women’s hockey event at the FISU Winter Games.

“It’s actually funny to score them in bunches like that, because this year, I’ve actually had trouble finding the net. “said Unruh. “It’s been a little frustrating back home because the puck just hasn’t been going in for me, but here this week it seems everything I do leads to a goal.”

Team Canada also got goals from Alberta’s Rayanne Reeve and captain Cathy Chartrand of McGill who – despite having significant international experience for Canada prior to the trip - found herself somewhat awestruck at game’s end.

“It’s better than anything I ever imagined it would feel like. To win gold as a member of Team Canada is a dream come true,” said Chartrand. “It was nice to be involved in a tight game in the final. Some of the games in the round robin were a little lopsided, but the final was a excellent game.”

Canada was undoubtedly the class of the fielding the inaugural edition of the women’s hockey portfolio at the games - posting an unblemished 7-0 record and outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 46-7 at the event - but despite the cumulative statistics, the outcome of the final was anything but a foregone conclusion.

Chartrand opened the scoring with her second goal and seventh point of the tournament in the late stages for the first period to give the Canadians the 1-0 lead after one.

To the delight of the raucously supportive crowd at the Harbin Ice Hockey Gym, the Chinese evened the score at 1-1 when Jin Fengling beat Manitoba Bisons’ netminder Stacey Corfield at 2:35 of the middle stanza. However, the joy in the stands was short-lived as Unruh regained the lead for Canada with the eventual game-winner moments later, giving the Canadians the one-goal lead heading into the final period.

Rayanne Reeve, a native of Stony Plain, Alta., who skates for the Alberta Pandas, added an insurance marker at 4:32 of the final period. The Chinese mounted a furious charge in the final few minutes, but Corfield kept the Canadian lead safe, and Canada achieved their golden goal.

“It’s so cliché, but words simply don’t describe the feeling right now,” said Corfield. ”To come together from all over the country and compete as a team – playing the Chinese in front of the biggest crowd any of us have ever played in front of – it’s been such a fun experience – the culture, the hockey, everything. I couidn’t have asked for a better time.’

Corfield picked up her tournament leading fifth win of the competition and was credited with 13 saves as Canada outshot China 39-14.

The women will now see if their golden touch can be transferred over to the men, as Canada’s guys face Russia in the final of the men’s hockey event Saturday afternoon.

Team Canada website:
www.cisport.ca/harbin

2009 Winter Universiade hockey results website:
http://app.harbin2009.org/wu24info/singleTable_Hockey.shtml?request_locale=en_US


SCORING SUMMARY

Canada 3, China 1
GOLD MEDAL GAME
(FISU GAMES @ Harbin Ice Hockey Gym)

FIRST PERIOD
1. Canada: Cathy Chartrand (A. Del Guidice, K.Webster), 17:17

Penalties:
China: R. Sun (crosscheck), 0:29
Canada: V. Davidson (interference), 3:46
Canada: K. Webster (hold), 10:33
Canada: C. Unruh (hook), 17:41


SECOND PERIOD
2. China: Jin Fengling (N.Jiang, R. Sun), 2:35 (PP)
3. Canada: Courtney Unruh (M. Provost, A. Bevan), 7:09

Penalties:
Canada: A. Ironside (rough), 2:23
Canada: M. Provost (hook), 4:48
China: H. Cui (hold), 11:33
Canada: A. Ironside (hold), 12:45
Canada: A. Boras (hold), 13:00

THIRD PERIOD
4. Canada: Rayanne Reeve (M. Provost, A. Bevan), 4:32 (PP)

Penalties:
China: A. Tan (rough), 4:23
Canada: K. Webster (cross), 10:14
Canada: S. Ramsay (trip), 19:52

SHOTS BY PERIOD:
China 8 - 3 - 3 -- 14.
Canada 17 - 11 - 11 -- 39.

GOALS BY PERIOD:
China 0 - 1 - 0 -- 1
Canada 1 - 1 - 1 -- 3

POWER PLAY CONVERSIONS:
China 1 / 9;
Canada 1 / 3.

PENALTIES (No/Mins):
China 3/6;
Canada 9/18.


GOALTENDERS:
China,
Shi Yao [L, 39 shots-36 saves, 60:00];

Canada,
Stacey Corfield [W, 14 shots-13 saves, 60:00).

Start: 7:31 pm
End: 9:34 pm

Attendance: (unavailable)

Referee: Tara Leighton (USA).