Chartrand scores as Canada wins gold in China

By Earl Zukerman

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(Pictured from left to right are McGill students: Vanessa Davidson, Cathy Chartrand, Alyssa Cecere, Caroline Hill, all chomping on their gold medals)
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HARBIN, China – McGill’s Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que., scored once as Canada defeated China 3-1 to capture gold in women’s hockey at the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, Friday.

Canada, which featured four McGill players in their lineup, went undefeated, posting an unblemished 7-0 record and outscoring opponents 46-7 at the event, also known as the world university winter games.

Chartrand, a 5-foot-10 rearguard, opened the scoring with her second goal and seventh point of the tourney at 17:17 of the opening period.

Despite having significant international experience for Canada prior to the trip, Chartrand, the team captain, 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.”

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, anative of Winnipeg, at 2:35 of the middle stanza. However, the joy in the stands was short-lived.

Moments later, York’s Courtney Unruh, from Fort St. John, B.C., regained the lead for Canada at 7:09. Unruh’s 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.”

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.

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

“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.’

GAME NOTES: The four McGill players combined to score nine goals and 11 assists in seven games for Canada. They included Chartrand (2-5-7), plus forwards Vanessa Davidson (4-4-8), a senior from Kirkland, Que., Alyssa Cecere (0-2-2), a junior from Brossard, Que., and junior Caroline Hill (3-0-3) of Dorval, Que.


Team Canada website:
www.cisport.ca/harbin

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



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).

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Dept. of Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
McGill University
475 Pine Avenue W.,
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)
www.athletics.mcgill.ca