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The Ottawa Citizen Online Sports Page

Tuesday 1 April 1997

CANADIAN WOMEN'S TEAM SPARKLES IN OPENER
                                    
Martin Cleary
The Ottawa Citizen

Canada 6, Switzerland 0

KITCHENER -- France Montour was a two-time world women's hockey gold
medallist for Canada in 1990 and 1992, but now she's trying to build a
champion from scratch as coach of a young and yearning Switzerland
team.

A return trip to the top of the medal podium isn't in the immediate
future for Montour, especially after the Swiss absorbed a one-sided
6-0 defeat against Canada last night on the opening day of the world
women's hockey championships.

The score could have been in double digits if it wasn't for the
heroics of Swiss goalie Patricia Sautter. Although frustrated by
Sautter's play, Canada never relented, outshooting the Swiss 61-5
before 3,889 fans.

Canada, which has won 16 straight games in world championship play and
is aiming for its fourth straight global title, will play Russia
tonight (TSN and RDS, 7:30 p.m.).

It certainly won't rival any of the celebrated Canada-Russia men's
matchups during the past 25 years. The Russian women's is only three
years old and is making its world championship début.

Canada dominated the Swiss in every category except scoring goals.
Besides the can't-beat-me play of Sautter, Canada's forwards often
missed open-net opportunities.

"It's difficult to play in a game like that, when they cover the puck
and ice the puck,'' said Canadian head coach Shannon Miller of
Calgary. "It's tough to get a rhythm, but it was a matter of pride to
finish strong."

Defensively, Canada was brilliant. Switzerland didn't get its first
shot on goal until more than six minutes of the second period had
passed. By the time Kathrin Lehmann took the first Swiss shot, Canada
had 29.

The Swiss also had a two-man advantage for 108 seconds in the second
period, but didn't get a shot on goalie Danielle Dubé of Vancouver
because of Canada's persistent checking.

Vicky Sunohara of Scarborough, Hayley Wickenheiser of Calgary,
Danielle Goyette of Ste-Foy, Que., Nancy Drolet of Drummondville,
Que., Angela James of Thornhill and Rebecca Fahey of Sackville, N.B.,
were Canada's goal scorers. The last three goals came in the final 2
1/2 minutes.

Sautter received a rousing ovation when she was named Switzerland's
player of the game.

In other games, the United States beat Norway 7-0, Finland beat Sweden
5-0, and China downed Russia 6-2.

Montour, the Swiss national coach for the past three years, had
expected to see the Canadians camp out in the Swiss end of the ice.

"We played very good defence,'' she said. "If you forget the last two
minutes, that was an awesome game."

Switzerland's best previous result was sixth in 1990 at Ottawa.

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Copyright (c) 1997 The Ottawa Citizen