International
Day 2: Two Top 20 performances in both alpine skiing and biathlon highlight second day of competition
Still perfect are both hockey teams at the 29th Winter Universiade. In curling, it was a split day as both curling teams lost in the morning and afternoon session and then men’s team bounced back for a win in the evening draw.
Women’s Hockey
The Canadian women’s hockey team had their toughest test to date as it took them almost the full 60 minutes before solving USA goaltender Hannah Stone. Canada scored late as defender Jodi Gentile (Lethbridge; Richmond, B.C.) ripped home a shot from the slot with a mess in front of Stone for the lone and only goal needed in a 1-0 win by Canada.
The red and white dominated the majority of the intense game against their arch-rival USA but it took the 57th and last shot to finally find the back of the net. Canada had numerous chances throughout the game only to be thwarted time-and-time again and outshot the States by a large 57-23 margin.
“We definitely had lots of chances and we were building up to the end,” said captain Kaitlin Willoughby (Saskatchewan; Prince Albert, Sask.). “The last 30 seconds, we finally figured it out and we are really excited how the game ended.”
With the win, Canada remains perfect with a 3-0 record and has not given up a goal so far at this Universiade (game one: 10-0 win over China; game two: 4-0 win vs. Japan). Goalie Maude Lévesque-Ryan (Ottawa Gee-Gees; Rimouski, Que.) earned her second shutout in Russia with 23 saves.
“That was one we had to work for. We knew it was not going to be easy as the Americans gave us a good game," commented head coach Stacey Colarossi (Laurentian) after the victory. “It was one of those games that you just know that you have to stick with your game plan. We worked hard around the net and its not going be pretty but it’s going be a ‘greasy’ goal. The team did a great job continually to drive that blue paint today.”
The Canadian women’s hockey team now enjoy a well-earned day off and then resumes play against Switzerland (0-3) on Wednesday at 4 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local time) in fourth game of Group A at Pervomaisky Ice Arena.
Men’s Hockey
The Canadian men’s hockey team beat a spirited Latvian side as the score did not reflect the closeness of the game at times. Canada came away with a 6-1 victory on the strength of a four goal barrage in the second plus a strong balanced attacked coupled with strong goaltending by Sébastien Auger (UQTR; St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Que.).
“It was very good game for us. We prepared well as we knew Latvia was a very skilled team,” said head coach Kevin Hamlin (Windsor). “Sébastien made a big stop and some timely saves in the first period or it could have gone either way. We were concerned of this game and the strong opponent and felt this was a crucial game to keep building momentum in Russia.”
In the first, forward David Thomson (Toronto; Vaughan, Ont.) converted a nice pass and fired into an empty net for a 1-0 lead. In the second, Canada turned it on with three goals in rapid succession and forced Latvia to take a time out. Goal-scorers in the second for the maple leaf were Thomson with his second of the contest, forward Danny Hanlon (Laurier; Waterloo, Ont.) and defenceman Carl Neill (Concordia; Lachute, Que.) plus forward Mike Morgan (Waterloo Warriors; Scarborough, Ont.) with his fourth goal of this tournament. Christophe Boivin (UQTR; Quebec City, Que.) finished the scoring on another pretty passing play late in the third and Canada walked away with their second win so far at this Universiade.
“It was definitely a good game. We were lot happier with this result and play than the first game,“ commented captain and defenceman Liam Maaskant (Acadia; Clinton, Ont.). “It is good to see a full attack from the bottom to top. All the lines have confidence. We are all good players at our universities. We are coming together to play our roles and everyone is contributing their part.”
The Canadian men’s hockey team now enjoy a well-earned day off and then resumes play against Switzerland (2-1) on Wednesday, March 6 at 12:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time) in the third game of Group B at the Crystal Ice Arena.
Women’s Curling
In day two of curling, the women’s team had only one draw in the afternoon but came up short against a tough Sweden team. After down 1-0 early, Canada produced two in the second for their only lead of the game. Sweden scored right back with a deuce in the third and then after a 3-3 tie at the fifth end break. In the close match, Canada could not score the final points as the Swedes cored the crucial two in the final frame for the 7-5 win and both teams left the ice with a 2-1 record.
“I am very proud of these athletes. We have only played three games together since we won U SPORTS nationals last year because of the commitment they had to different teams this season," commented Garry Coderre (Alberta; Forget, Sask.) “So in a very short time to put a maple leaf on your back and be part of Team Canada at the Universiade in Russia and be sitting with a 2-1 in two days of competition is great. We have a long road ahead of us. We just have to keep both eyes on the road and the goal will be at the end of the road for us.”
Canada (2-1) will face Switzerland (1-2) on Monday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET (9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, March 5) and play Great Britain (2-1) on Tuesday, March 5 at 7 a.m. ET (7 p.m. local time) in fourth and fifth matches of round robin.
Men’s Curling
The men’s curling team experienced, for their first time in Russia, playing two games in one day. In the morning, the frost was creeping onto the ice and the team had some challenges as they fell 12-6 to Great Britain despite scoring a three-ender and a deuce in the loss. Yet skip Karsten Sturmay (Alberta; Leduc, Alta.) and the team bounced back in a wild and exciting 13-8 result against United State in the evening.
During the win, a rare phenomenon occurred as there was back-to-back 5-enders for both teams in the fifth and sixth ends
“It was a high scoring game with lots of curl and potential for great shot-making," said Sturmay. "That happened on both ends and they (USA) put together a great end to get five and then we bounced back to do the same thing. That was the first time I’ve seen back-to-back fives in my career!”
The skip continued to praise his team for its resilience during a difficult first game. “Today was a bit of grind and we came a little slower then we would have like in a morning. But I felt the boys re-grouped and everyone got their stuff together and came on strong in the evening.”
The men’s team goes back to one game tomorrow as they face host Russia (2-1) on Tuesday, March 5 at 2 a.m. ET (2 p.m. local time) in fourth game of round robin.
Men’s Curling Results (two games)
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After 18 goals in two games for #uCAN, captain Liam Maaskant shares his thoughts on the team’s performance at @Krasnoyarsk2019. pic.twitter.com/NQ31mJhdyS
— U SPORTS Team Canada (@USPORTSIntl) March 4, 2019