Western's Gosling scores first international goal as Canada advances at 2016 Nations Cup
FÜSSEN, Germany – Western Mustangs defenceman Katelyn Gosling (London, Ont./University of Western Ontario, OUA), scored her first international goal as Canada’s National Women’s Development Team booked a spot in the gold medal game at the 2016 Nations Cup with a 4-2 win over Russia on Tuesday.
FÜSSEN, Germany – Western Mustangs defenceman Katelyn Gosling recorded her first international goal to help Canada's National Women's Development team earn a spot in the gold medal game at the 2016 Nations Cup with a 4-2 win over Russia on Tuesday.
Gosling's goal, scored at 14:57 of the first period, ended up as the game winner after Russia scored to both open and close the scoring on Tuesday. The goal is Gosling's second point in three international games this week, as she also provided an assist in Canada's 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in pre-tournament action on January 2nd.
Leading all players on the scoresheet was Kanata, Ont., native Jamie Lee Rattray who netted two goals and added an assist on another marker. McGill's Mélodie Daoust provided the rest of the offence in the win.
The win puts Canada atop Group B, and means it will play for gold on Thursday against the Group A winner (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) in search of its 11th gold medal at the annual tournament.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, and it took until the 7:31 of the second for the scoring to start; Elina Mitrofanova beat Canadian netminder Elaine Chuli (Waterford, Ont./University of Connecticut, HE) to give the Russians the 1-0 lead.
But Canada struck back with a fast and furious offensive burst to take control. Rattray tied the game at 11:23, and helped set up Daoust for the go-ahead goal at 12:52 before Gosling's marker at 14:57 sent the Canadians to the dressing room up 3-1.
Rattray added a second goal for good measure early in the third period before Valeria Pavlova capped the scoring with a consolation tally on the power play for the Russians in the final minute.
It's the third time in its last three trips Canada will appear in the gold medal game at the tournament; it won gold in 2013 and 2015, the most recent of its 10 titles since first taking part in 2003.
Following the tournament Gosling will return to Western where the Mustangs will resume their regular season schedule on January 10 at 4 p.m. against the UOIT Ridgebacks at Thompson Arena.
With files from Hockey Canada and Western Mustangs
