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The World Championships were held from November 8 to 18 in Europe. Sweden and Finland shared the hosting of the games. It included four teams - the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden. The tournament was played in two stages. The first round involved a European playoff between Sweden and Finland, played earlier late October. Then Team Canada squared off in a North American playoff against Team USA, in Stockholm, Sweden on November the 8th. Following exhibition games in both Sweden and Finland, the teams completed the medal games in Finland. The two winners of the first round played a two game series for the gold medal. The first game was played on November 15 in Lahti, Finland and the final game on November 18 in Espoo, Finland. The bronze medal game was played immediately prior to the final gold game on November 18 in Espoo. Canada's Women's National Ringette Team came together in Cambridge and Mississauga (Ontario) on November 2-4, to practice and participate in exhibition games against the Ontario Selects, prior to their departure for Sweden on November 4th. The schedule of activities for the Women's National Ringette Team was as follows: Friday, November 3rd Wednesday, November 8th Team Canada DEFEATED the USA 9-3 Wednesday, the 8th of November, in the first round of the World Championships in Stockholm Sweden. This first round game was the North American Qualifier at the Ekvallen Arena. That advanced them to the gold medal series against Finland the following week November 15th and 18th. We all wished CANADA, GOOD LUCK! Canada took a 5 - 2 lead into the Second Period where they increased it to 7 -2. The USA scored one in the Third Period to go with Canada's 8th and 9th goals to make it a 9 to 3 victory for Canada in the North American Qualifier. Click here for Full Game Story from Ringette Canada. Finland had already qualified for the finals after beating Sweden in the European Playoff. The results of these games determined Pool A and Pool B standings. The USA and Sweden were matched up in the bronze medal game, and Canada - Finland in the gold medal game. 5:00 p.m. Team Canada Departed for Helsinki, Finland on an overnight Cruise Ship. Thursday, November 9th Arrived in Helsinki, Finland at 9:55 am and took the day off. Friday, November 10th 12:30 - 2:00 pm Practiced in Konala Arena in Helsinki Saturday, November 11th 7:00 am - Departed for Lapinlahti, Finland 5:00 pm - Exhibition Game - Canada 12 - Lapinlahti Club team 1 at Lapinlahti, Finland. The game was held in a new facility built just for the local ringette association and it is situated on Ringette Street. A quiet town, they love their ringette. Some of the most influential people are big ringette fans - which is how the facility was built and the name of the street. Sunday, November 12th 1:00 pm - Exhibition Game - Canada 3 - Team Finland 4 also in Lapinlahti. Canada opened the scoring in the first period as Sarah Miller feeds Megan Todd coming down the slot. Megan dekes the top of the triangle, swing around and pots the goal. That was the only goal of the period. All Finland in the Second Period as they score four times. Third Period, all Canada... Jen Willan and Kim Stephenson score to mount a comeback that almost went all the way. Wait for Wednesday's opening game of the Gold medal Series... What a game! 5:00 pm - Returned to Helsinki Monday, November 13th Morning Off in Helsinki 2:30 - 4:30 pm - Practiced at Konala Arena in Helsinki Tuesday, November 14th 12:30 - 2:00 pm - Practiced at Konala Arena in Helsinki Wednesday, November 15th 9:30 am - 10:30 am - Practiced at Konala Arena in Helsinki 6:30 pm - World Championship Game #1 - Canada vs Finland at Lahti, Finland Canada stormed back with 4 goals in the 3rd period to lose 5-4 to Finland in Game 1 of the World Championship Final. Finland led 2-0 at the end of the 1st period and lifted that margin to 5-0 after two periods. With 12 minutes to go in the 60 minute contest, Canada roared back with goals by Todd, Hobday, Miller and Warner. The Second and final game was scheduled for Saturday, 18 November. Canada had to win that game in regulation time to force overtime to win the two game World Championship Series. The team with the most points (two points for a win, one for a tie) after the series wins the World Championships. Thursday, November 16th 2:00 - 3:30 pm - Practiced at Konala Arena in Helsinki Friday, November 17th 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Practiced at Länsi Auto Arena in Espoo. November 18th FINLAND "GOLD" - CANADA "SILVER" - USA "BRONZE" Canada and Finland tied 5-5 Saturday in the Final Game of the World Ringette Championship. Vidlund scored her 2nd goal of the game, tying the score to win the World Championship for Finland. She scored with just 1:56 to go in the game, breaking Canada's heart. The Tie was enough to give Finland the World Championship. Canada had to win Saturday's game in regulation time to stay in contention for Gold. Hobday had scored with only 7 minutes to go in the 3rd Period to put Canada in the lead. Megan Todd, named Canada's MVP of the Championship Game, scored twice and had two assists for Canada. Willan and Miller had the other Canuck goals. Kortesoja, Heinonen and Ojaranta scored the other Finnish markers. Earlier Saturday morning Team USA defeated Sweden 9 - 0 to win the Bronze Medal at the World Championships. Sunday, November 19th 8:40 am - Departed for Canada Support for Team Canada Canadians who wanted to show their support for athletes while they were participating at the World Championships were encouraged to do so by sending an E-mail directly to: teamcanada@ringette.ca |
Team Canada 2000 Gloucester Devils' Nadia Tomy and Alexis Snowden were two of the 22 players selected to Canada's National team that will participate in the Fifth World Championships to be held in Finland in November 2000. Former Devils Kim Stephenson of St John's, Nfld, Megan Todd of Edmonton, and Nancy Blouin of Gloucester were also chosen to represent our nation on Team Canada. Two of the Coaches of Team Canada 2000 are from Gloucester, Danielle Poirier & Lyndsay Wheelans.
Gloucester Devils' Barb Bautista, - (bio) who was born in the United States, was selected to Team USA.