Game Notes: BACH SCORES TWICE, CANADA BEATS FINNS IN NATIONS CUP OPENER
JASON LA ROSE
FÜSSEN, Germany – Victoria Bach (Milton, Ont./Boston University, HE) had a pair of goals, including the game-winner late in the first period, and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team got the 2015 Nations Cup started with a 4-1 victory over Finland on Saturday.
The win improves Canada’s record at the event (formerly the Air Canada Cup, MLP Cup and Meco Cup) to 34-4 since it first participated in 2004; the Canadians have won eight of a possible 10 gold medals.
Kelly Terry (Whitby, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) and Kaleigh Fratkin (Burnaby, B.C./Boston, CWHL) also scored for Canada, which almost doubled the Finns in shots on goal, holding a 37-19 advantage.
Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) added two assists, while goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) made 18 saves to record the win.
The Canadians didn’t waste any time getting on the board; Terry banked a shot in off a Finnish defenceman’s skate just 2:30 in, giving Canada the lead for good.
Bach buried the rebound of a Nurse shot with 1:21 left in the first period for a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, and showed off quick hands from in close to score on the power play six minutes into the middle frame.
The Finns got one back just past the eight-minute mark of the third period when Riikka Valila converted on a man advantage, but Fratkin got a point shot past netminder Eveliina Suonpää just 21 seconds later to restore the three-goal lead and finish the scoring.
Canada is right back to action on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT), facing Russia in its second and final preliminary round contest. The four-day tournament finishes Tuesday with the bronze and gold medal games.
