Canada to face U.S. for gold at inaugural Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge
Canadians close out round-robin play with back-to-back shutout wins, score 24 goals
Canada bounced back in a big way on Saturday at the inaugural Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge in Green Bay, Wis.
The Canadians claimed back-to-back shutout wins in round-robin play against Team World and Great Britain while scoring a combined 24 goals.
Canadian captain Alanna Mah led the way with four goals in Canada's 12-0 win over Team World, while Raphaëlle Tousignant scored a hat trick and Alyssa White added two goals. Team World is comprised of athletes from several nations.
Mah opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the game.
It took Canada 🇨🇦 only 34 seconds to score the opening goal against Team World! 💥<br><br>Captain Alanna Mah makes it 1:0! 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensWorldChallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WomensWorldChallenge</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParaIceHockey?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParaIceHockey</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Citi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Citi</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ParaSport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParaSport</a> <a href="https://t.co/Lmlo0RXWZI">pic.twitter.com/Lmlo0RXWZI</a>
—@paraicehockeyFellow Canadian forward Emily de Boer added a second-period goal, while defender Claire Buchanan and forward Aubree Clements scored in the third.
Canadian national team veterans Tracey Arnold and Tuyet Morris Yurczyszyn combined for the shutout in net, with Canada outshooting Team World 25-4.
The Canadians picked up where they left off later in the day, with another 12-0 victory against Great Britain that saw Clements deliver a four-goal performance of her own.
Canada peppered British goaltender Nicole Jodi Hill with 46 shots — with goals also coming from Tousignant, de Boer, White, Myriam Adam, Mackenzie Spong, Meghan Harris, and Peggy Assinck, who scored twice.
Yurczyszyn played the entire game against Great Britain but only faced two shots while Canada put on a dominant defensive display.
Hosted by World Para Ice Hockey, the tournament serves as an important stepping stone toward establishing a women's Para ice hockey world championship, with the ultimate goals of increasing female participation in the sport and having it added to the Paralympic program.
In another first for World Para Ice Hockey, the event features an all-female officiating crew, including Canadian officials Jane Ogilvie and Danielle Williams.
