Women’s Team Canada At Its Peak In The Steel City - WeAreBallhockey.com
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Women’s Team Canada At Its Peak In The Steel City

Thursday, 04 June, 2015 16:19
Women’s Team Canada At Its Peak In The Steel City

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, played host to the 2nd World Ball Hockey Federation Championship.

Nestled on Neville Island, Robert Morris Sports Center played host to the event.  The hospitality was second to none, and would be a memorable experience for many reasons, not the least of which was the 30 degree daily temperature that turned the arena into a sweat box through the five day event.

Canada’s 4-0 round robin record was of little surprise as they continued their impressive run from the previous World Championships without a loss or tie in round robin play. Slovakia, Czech Republic and Ireland were dispatched with little effort. Their most physical contest was against Team USA, which featured many returnees from the 2013 tournament.  This tough defensive game took a late second period goal to give the Canucks a lead they would not relinquish.

The game against the USA seemed to take a little starch out of the Canadian side as they weren’t able to score early as they had done in previous games.  The momentum they gained from the late goal in the second period would carry them through the rest of the tournament.

Canada would face Slovakia in the semi-final and their biggest fear could have been to be over confidence, but the coaching staff had this group ready and they stormed out to a 4-0 lead after the first period and added three more in the second and final goal in the third.

In the final versus the United States of America, the story was starting to sound the same: Canada dominates throughout the tournament but cannot score in the big game.  After one period, it was only 1-0 and the American team was playing good defence.  However, this would be a Canada team that would have all is lines firing on this day and coach Mario Facciuolo and assistant Irene Kiratzis had been patient with all the lines and the team erupted for three goals in the second and another three in the third.  The final result, a 7-0 drubbing and a spectacle that produced a standing ovation and appreciation of the skill the Canucks showed from the start of the tournament.

The scariest part of Team Canada’s performance at WC’15 was that this team was supposedly in a rebuilding mode in preparation for 2017 in China.  The 2013 gold medal win at home in Toronto, featured numerous veterans who were showcased as a reward for their many great years in the sport. Thus the Team Canada brain trust was faced with the task of adding several new players to the team for 2015, with many of them in their early twenties. The staff, General Manager, Cindy Horton and Facciuolo and Kiratzis did a great job in having the team peak at the right time, while trainer, Terry King and Dr. Andi Jones were instrumental in keeping the players healthy, cool, and properly hydrated.

This back-to-back win is the first time any nation has accomplished this and the team already sets its sites on China in 2017. 

For complete Women’s games scores, visit:

http://www.weareballhockey.com/divisions/880-womens.html

For more information and to keep updated with international events and news, visit the World Ball Hockey Federation information www.worldballhockey.com

To receive information on membership and to register a team at a WBHF event, please email wbhf.president@gmail.com or info@worldcupofballhockey.com

Tags: Ontario

Ontario Province

Ontario

Asociation: Ontario Ball Hockey Association

Address: 5-56 Pennsylvania Avenue Concord, Ontario, L4K 3V9

Links: www.ontarioballhockey.ca

Year founded: 1974

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