2015-16 National Women's Team

MASCHMEYER STARS, BUT CANADA SETTLES FOR SILVER AT WORLDS

JASON LA ROSE

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./Harvard University, ECAC) was absolutely spectacular, making 33 saves, but Canada’s National Women’s Team dropped a 1-0 overtime thriller to the United States in the gold medal game Monday at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

It’s the seventh time Canada has finished as runner-up at women’s worlds, along with its 10 gold medals.

The game was a polar opposite to last year’s final in Malmö, Sweden, when the Americans scored twice in the third period to earn a 7-5 win and their second-consecutive world title.

Just as she did in Canada’s tournament-opening loss to the U.S. last Monday, Maschmeyer stole the show; the Canadian netminder made big save after big save, including a shorthanded breakaway stop on eventual overtime hero Alex Carpenter in the second period.

Canada had the edge on the shot clock through first 40 minutes, holding a 21-14 advantage, but American goaltender Alex Rigsby matched Maschmeyer save for save, sending the game to the final frame scoreless.

The Canadians carried the play early in the third period, including their third power play, but the U.S. turned the tables midway through the final stanza, and outshot Canada 9-4 in the period.

Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) had a point-blank chance in the dying seconds, only to be turned away by Rigsby, but a late penalty on the U.S. meant Canada had 1:53 of power play to start overtime.

The best chance of the man advantage went to Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.), who didn’t get everything on her shot from the slot, but still forced Rigsby to make a quick blocker save.

Just seconds after the Canadians killed off a penalty in the extra period, a point shot from Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson was tipped off the post, and then off Maschmeyer, by Megan Bozek, and Carpenter was parked at the side of the crease to tap in the loose puck and give the U.S. gold.

After coming up short on home ice, Canada will try to return the favour next year when Plymouth, Mich., hosts the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship.