Canada U22 win gold at Meco Cup in Germany

07 Jan 2013 | Tyler Bilton

A day after their younger counterparts defeated the US to win gold in the IIHF U18 World Championship, the Canadian U22 squad defeated Russia to clinch their ninth Meco Cup gold medal.

The annual Meco Cup is held in Germany and Switzerland that features five senior women national teams and Canada’s U22 development team. In the tournament’s 10 year history (formally known as the MLP Cup and Air Canada Cup), Canada’s U22 won gold every year except last year where they had to settle for the bronze.

Canada’s Melodie Daoust (McGill University, CIS) got on the scoreboard first nine minutes into the first period. Russia’s Ekaterina Lebedeva responded 13 seconds later and sparked a goal-for-goal exchange that ended with Canada ahead 3-2 at the end of the first.

Russia had a player in the penalty box for almost the entire second period as they received 20 minutes in minor penalties and game misconduct. However, Canada could only manage one power play goal as Daoust got her second of the night tying her with Sweden’s Erika Grahm for most points in the tournament. Brianne Jenner (Cornell University, NCAA) tallied the other goal in the second period that gave Canada a 5-2 lead heading into the third.

Bridgette Lacquette (University of Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA) made it 6-3 four minutes into the third, but Tatiana Burina gave the Russian’s hope with her third goal of the tournament. However, Carolyne Prevost (Montreal, CWHL) and Sarah Edney (Harvard University, NCAA) both scored empty netters to give Canada a 8-3 victory and their ninth Meco gold.

Rounding out the tournament, Finland beat Germany 6-3 for the silver and Sweden defeated Switzerland 4-3 on Erika Grahm overtime goal.

Final Rankings
1.   Canada
2.   Russia
3.   Finland
4.   Germany
5.   Sweden
6.   Switzerland