By Carl Carter – Meridian Booster Sports
Lloydminster – One member of the Lloydminster Bobcats rang in the New Year with a bang, as Team Canada opened up the 2012 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship with a big victory this past weekend.
Goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer was between the pipes for Canada as the team defeated Switzerland, 13-1, to start the tournament in the Czech Republic this past weekend.
Maschmeyer gave up one goal on 26 shots and then Canada cruised to the victory.
Canada then went on to beat Germany, 6-0. Elaine Chuli was the starting goaltender for that match-up, and she made 18 saves for her first international shutout.
Team Canada got a bit of a break after Sunday’s game, as the team would not play again until Tuesday against Finland (results unavailable at press time). A win would secure first place for Canada in Group B, and put the squad into the semi-finals.
Since the tournament began in 2007, Canada and USA have met in the finals every year. USA is the defending champion, and Canada’s lone gold medal came in 2010.
See next week’s Booster Sports for more results on the tournament.
