November 9, 2003

SKЦVDE, Sweden -- The 2003 United States Women's Select Team defeated rival Canada, 2-1, in the gold-medal game at the 2003 Four Nations Cup here this evening. After 60 minutes of regulation play, the two teams went to a four-on-four five-minute overtime period. The teams remained scoreless through the overtime and began a sudden-death shootout, where each team registered 11 shots before Team USA Captain Cammi Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.) deked right and slipped the puck past Canada’s goaltender Charline Labonte. The win marks the second time that the U.S. has defeated Canada in a shootout, and the sixth shootout situation overall.

Canada notched the first goal of the game at 14:01 on a shot from Caroline Ouellette. Forward Jayna Hefford passed the puck from behind the net to Ouellette, who slid the puck under U.S. goaltender Pam Dreyer (Eagle River, Alaska) to make the first-period score 1-0.

The U.S. converted on its second power-play opportunity of the second stanza when Granato put the puck past Labonte from the left doorstep to end Canada’s lead and make the score 1-1. Forwards Jenny Potter (Eagan, Minn.) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) got the helpers on Granato’s game-tying tally. Canada’s best opportunity in the second period came on a Hefford shot that hit the crossbar and dropped to the goal line, where Dreyer protected the net by lying on the puck.

After three periods of regulation play and the four-on-four five-minute overtime the score remained tied although Canada out shot the U.S. 37 to 28. Seven different players for Team Canada, and six different players for Team USA made attempts in the sudden-death shootout, including defenseman Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.) and forwards Potter, Wendell, Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.), Natalie Darwitz (Edina, Minn.) and Granato. On her third attempt Granato was able to put the puck past Labonte to notch the gold-medal game winner.

"It feels really good," said Granato of the win. "We have only won this tournament once, in 1997, so it is an amazing feeling, I’m just going to savor it."

Dreyer registered her second win of the tournament and the first gold medal of her career, stopping 27 shots in the game and all 11 of the shootout goal attempts.

"The play of Dreyer in the five-minute overtime was extraordinary," said U.S. Head Coach Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.). "The goalkeeping in the shootout was spectacular for both sides. Women’s international ice hockey was played at its finest tonight."

Ruggiero and Danielle Goyette were named Players of the Game for the U.S. and Canada, respectively, and U.S. forward Wendell was named the best player of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, Finland upset host Sweden, 3-2 in the bronze-medal game, for the second consecutive year.

* * *

Klinger and a Jernberg coworker joined Boris, Frank, Beak, Brinks and Nick for lunch at Nick's Tavern.

Stump gets a homophobic look as one of the Hansens gets friendly.

Vidas "Formica" was sent packing.  

(He went to  Seattle)

Tweedy pays off Beer nuts for all of those quick whistles.