Bringing Home Gold

According to the Canadian government, Slovak exports to Canada totaled some $604 million in 2017. I don't know if they have increased in 2019, but there's a good chance that the 2017 numbers didn't include the gold that's being brought back from Slovakia by 24 Canadian women and a handful of staff. If you missed the news, Canada won the 2019 ISBHF World Championships this weekend after an impressive showing over the last week in Košice, Slovakia. While there are some recognizable names on the roster, it was a few newcomers who helped push the Canadians back to the top.

Jamie Lee Rattray and Devon Skeats both played in the CWHL in terms of professional hockey, but they have repeatedly answered the call when Canada Ball Hockey is looking for players to defend the country's honour on the world stage at the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation Women's World Championship. However, it wouldn't be these two women who carried Canada at the international level.

In the opening game of the tournament on June 14, Canada drew the host Slovakians. Elysia Desmier, who last played pro ice hockey with the Brampton Thunder in 2010-11, opened the scoring for Canada 8:58 into the game. Reagan Fischer, a Dartmouth graduate in 2013 and long-time ball hockey player, added a second Canadian goal at 13:43. Canada then added two goals in 1:38 by Edie Brenning, a Neumann University graduate in 2014, at 28:12 and 29:50 as Canada skated to the 4-0 win. Nathalie Girouard, a long-time goalkeeper for the Canadian squad, stopped all 26 shots she faced for the shutout.

Canada faced Great Britain on June 16, and this game saw six different goal scorers for Canada light the lamp. Aprill Drake, one of three Newfoundland-born women on the squad, opened the scoring before Desmier added her second of the tournament over a minute later. Kendra Dunlop, a captain with RPI in 2011, made it 3-0 before Chelsea Karpenko, a Cornell graduate in 2012 and long-time ball hockey player, made it 4-0.

Great Britain would find the back of the net against future York University netminder Julianna Thomson when Abbie Culshaw broke the shutout, but former Toronto Furies GM Nicole Latreille made it 5-1 and Margaux Sharp, a 2013 Dartmouth graduate, would round out the scoring at 6-1. Canada moves to 2-0-0-0 with the win, and looked like they would be a lock for the playoff round.

June 17 saw Canada square off with the Czech Republic in a tightly-contested match. The Czech Republic has always had solid ball hockey squads, and this year was no different as they were equal to the task that laid ahead of them on this day. Through four periods, neither side gave an inch and both Julianna Thomson and Kateřina Zechovská went save for save as this game went to the shootout. In the skills competition, the Czechs finally bested the Canadians as Kateřina Němcová scored the winner. Canada would still gain a point with the shootout loss, so all was not lost but a stiff test lay before them on the final day.

In the final round-robin game on June 18, Canada rallied after their loss and downed Team USA 2-0 as Jessica McCann, a defender from St. Thomas University of the AUS, scored both goals goals for Canada while Girouard stopped all 22 shots she faced for the shutout. McCann's teammate, Danielle Ring, assisted on both of the goals as the Tommies made their mark on the tournament as Canada advanced to the three-team playoff with a 3-0-0-1 record.

Canada drew Team USA in the first game of the three-team playoff. The two teams with the best records would advance to the final, so wins meant everything here, and Canada came out guns a-blazing! Jessica McCann, Kendra Dunlop, McCann again, Chelsea Karpenko, and Giuliana Pallotta, Canada's Under-20 women's ball hockey coach, paced Canada to an impressive 5-0 win as they shutout the Americans for the second time in three days. Nathalie Girouard had a quieter day, making only 13 stops for the clean sheet as Canada clamped down defensively and grabbed the all-important first win of the playoff round.

After the Americans downed Slovakia 2-1 on June 20, it set up another important match for the Canadians. If Canada won, they and the Americans would advance to the final. If Slovakia won and scored more than two goals, they would advance with Canada to the final based on goal differential. Needless to say, the result of Canada and Slovakia on June 21 would determine the fortunes of at least two teams.

Canada would continue its solid defence as they limited chances on starting netminder Julianna Thomson. Margaux Sharp would get Canada on the board at the 16:50 mark with a goal against Dominika Tabačková. The game would continue in its tight-checking manner as both sides thwarted efforts of the other. However, Canada would double its lead at 31:32 when Kristen Cooze, the former Mount Allison Mountie, sniped a shot past Tabačková. From there, Thomson and the Canadian did the rest as Canada secured the 2-0 win on a 12-save shutout for Thomson, and Canada would play for the gold medal against the Americans!

June 22 saw the gold medal game get underway as Canada and the US tangled for the third time in this tournament, and it would be a different start than we saw in the previous two games as the Americans grabbed the lead at 11:57 off a Cherie Stewart shot! With the Americans holding the lead through the first period, Canada would need to battle back in the second period.

The Canadians would come out flying in the middle frame as they peppered American goalie Carli Bekkering with shots. That pressure would pay off at the 19:00 mark when Edie Brenning's shot found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1! 24 seconds later, Canada went up 2-1 when Elysia Desmier's shot found room past Bekkering as Canada began to impose its will. Brenning would make it a 3-1 game at 25:47, but the Americans would get one back when Witley Nichols beat Nathalie Girouard at 28:24. The Canadians would head to the third period up 3-2.

Early in the third period, Kristen Cooze restored the two-goal lead for the Canadians when her shot lit the lamp at 31:13! Sensing that they needed to up their defensive game with the two-goal cushion, Canada went into a defensive shell, preventing chances and limiting opportunities for the Americans. That strategy proved effective as time wore on, and the final horn saw the jubilant celebration of the red and white as Canada claimed the gold medal with the 4-2 victory!

Edie Brenning and Jessica McCann were the top scorers for Canada, finishing the tournament with four goals and two assists apiece. Chelsea Karpenko finished with two goals and three assists for five points while Melanie Jue recorded five helpers to tie Karpenko in scoring. Elysia Desmier ended the tournament with three goals as the next leading goal scorer for the Canadians. Julianna Thomson and Nathalie Girouard were second- and third-best goaltenders, respectively, at the tournament based on save percentage.

For me, it's nice to see the Canadian women bringing home gold once more. The sacrifices that these women put in to go and represent Canada are rather remarkable. Each of them was required to raise $3000 for the trip to Slovakia while still keeping themselves fit and in good health. That's on top of everything else happening in their lives with family and friends, and the majority hold down day jobs if they aren't still enrolled in school.

Considering all that, these women deserve some special kudos for all they do in representing the maple leaf internationally. To the 24 women who are bringing home gold, this writer couldn't be more proud of your efforts. Well done, ladies, and congratulations on being the best in the world!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!