Statement made on 15 April 2010 by Senator Wilfred Moore
Hon. Wilfred P. Moore:
Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Canada's under-18 women's hockey team, which won the gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Championship held in Chicago last weekend, with a 5-4 overtime win against the United States of America. This game was the third straight time that Canada and the United States squared off in a gold medal game, with the U.S. winning the first two.
Canada was behind 3-1 after the first period and 4-3 after the second. With only eight minutes left in regulation time, Jenna McParland scored to tie the game for Canada. At the 3:10 mark in overtime, Jessica Campbell, captain of Canada's team, tipped in Brigitte Lacquette's point shot to win the game and the gold medal for Canada.
Ms. Campbell's overtime goal gave her seven goals and 15 points in five games, and earned her the Most Valuable Player award for the tournament. Ms. Lacquette finished second in points, with 13. She had a plus-minus of plus 15, and was named the top defenceman.
Jillian Saulnier of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was our team's assistant captain, and finished fourth in scoring with four goals and 10 points in five games.
Team Canada was back-stopped by Carmen MacDonald, a 17-year-old goalie from Pictou, Nova Scotia. She made 37 stops in the championship game. MacDonald's .947 save average was tops in the tournament, and she posted a minuscule 1.12 goals against average in three and a half games.
Assistant coach Lisa Jordan, who is also head coach of the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team, said of Ms. MacDonald:
She made two of these "Wow!" saves during a 5-on-3 penalty kill in the third period. It was just amazing and it allowed us back in the game and sent it to overtime. She was a major positive influence in how the game turned out.
Following the game, Dan Church, coach of Canada's team said:
It's historic for us. It's our first win at this age group and we really worked hard to improve the skill level. As most Canada-U.S. games are, it was a true test of the rivalry again and I thought both teams performed really, really well.
It is with much pride that I say to this team of talented, athletic young women, congratulations and well done. Trés bien! Go, Canada, go!