Fall Festival Final Set

Thursday, September 06, 2007 09:23 PM

submitted by Chris Jurewicz

Prince George, BC – Saturday's gold medal final has been set at the 2007 National Women’s Team Fall Festival.

Team Canada White defeated Team Sweden 6-0 on Thursday night at the Prince George Coliseum. That means that Team White (3-1) will face Team Canada Red (2-1) in Saturday night’s final (7 p.m.).

Kelly Bechard (Sedley, SK/Mississauga, NWHL) scored twice for Team White against Sweden, in what was a special night for the 29-year-old. Bechard played in her 100^th career international game and, prior to the game, she was presented with the Golden Helmet in Team White’s dressing room. The helmet is presented to skaters who have played 100 games and goalies who have appeared in 50 games.

Team Sweden also had a player who joined the 100-game club, that being Frida Nevalainen. Bechard and Nevalainen were honoured prior to the game and given a loud ovation by teammates, coaches and fans.

Bechard scored the lone goal of the first period. Team White struck for four goals in the second, with Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/Brampton, NWHL), Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Calgary, WWHL), Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, AB/University of Wisconsin, WCHA) and Bechard finding the back of the net.

Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, ON/Durham, PWHL) completed the scoring late in the third period. The goals by Mikkelson and Spooner were their first in international play with the National Women’s Team program.

Laura Hosier (Sharon, ON/Mercyhurst College, CHA) went the distance for Team White in net, stopping all 19 shots she faced. Kim Martin was in goal for Sweden and she stopped 33 of 39 shots.

The preliminary round of the Fall Festival concludes on Friday night, with Team Red facing off against Sweden at 7 p.m.