L-R: USA's Angela Ruggiero, Cammi Granato and Jenny Potter hoist the IIHF Ice Hockey World Women’s Championship trophy in Linkoping, Sweden in 2005.
photo: Soren Andersson / Bildbyran
No one could ever take away the U.S. Olympic gold from 1998, but between 1990 and 2004 Canada won every Women’s Worlds gold medal, eight in a row.
There were times when the Americans seemed close (there were one-goal games in 1997, 2000, and 2001) and there were some not-so-close games (an 8-0 loss in 1992, a 6-3 loss two years later), but the Americans kept their resolve over the years and arrived at each successive tournament with confidence.
In 2005, everything finally fell into place – barely.
Both teams advanced to the playoffs with perfect records, but Canada seemed the better team simply because it didn’t allow a goal in four games leading to the final clash, outscoring their opponents by an impressive, 38-0.
The Americans weren’t far behind, though, outscoring their four opponents by a cumulative score of 27-4. So, the game for gold was expected to be another classic between the great rivals.
And it was.
Despite the offensive talents of both teams, however, it was the goalies who stole the show, particularly Canada’s Kim St-Pierre. The Americans dominated the game, outshooting their enemies, 50-26, but through three periods of regulation and another 20 minutes of overtime, St-Pierre surrendered nary a goal. At the other end, although less busy, Chanda Gunn faced 26 shots and was equally resistant.
This was the first time in IIHF history that teams had played 20 minutes of sudden-death OT without a goal, and it meant the gold medal would be decided by a penalty- shot shootout for the first time.
Canada went first in the five-shot contest, and Sarah Vaillancourt scored to give her team a quick 1-0 advantage. But the next shooter, American Natalie Darwitz, also scored. 1-1. Hayley Wickenheiser was stopped by Gunn, and then defender Angela Ruggiero scored to give the U.S. a lead. Gunn then stoned Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette, and Krissy Wendell added an insurance goal to give the U.S. gold.
For the first time in 15 years, the World Women’s champions were from America. Wendell was named tournament MVP, while Gunn was named IIHF Directorate Best Goalie for her sensational play in the gold-medal game.
This win marked the turning point for the U.S. women who have gone on to win nine of the last eleven WW tournaments between 2005 and 2019.
Click here for the overview of stories.
There were times when the Americans seemed close (there were one-goal games in 1997, 2000, and 2001) and there were some not-so-close games (an 8-0 loss in 1992, a 6-3 loss two years later), but the Americans kept their resolve over the years and arrived at each successive tournament with confidence.
In 2005, everything finally fell into place – barely.
Both teams advanced to the playoffs with perfect records, but Canada seemed the better team simply because it didn’t allow a goal in four games leading to the final clash, outscoring their opponents by an impressive, 38-0.
The Americans weren’t far behind, though, outscoring their four opponents by a cumulative score of 27-4. So, the game for gold was expected to be another classic between the great rivals.
And it was.
Despite the offensive talents of both teams, however, it was the goalies who stole the show, particularly Canada’s Kim St-Pierre. The Americans dominated the game, outshooting their enemies, 50-26, but through three periods of regulation and another 20 minutes of overtime, St-Pierre surrendered nary a goal. At the other end, although less busy, Chanda Gunn faced 26 shots and was equally resistant.
This was the first time in IIHF history that teams had played 20 minutes of sudden-death OT without a goal, and it meant the gold medal would be decided by a penalty- shot shootout for the first time.
Canada went first in the five-shot contest, and Sarah Vaillancourt scored to give her team a quick 1-0 advantage. But the next shooter, American Natalie Darwitz, also scored. 1-1. Hayley Wickenheiser was stopped by Gunn, and then defender Angela Ruggiero scored to give the U.S. a lead. Gunn then stoned Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette, and Krissy Wendell added an insurance goal to give the U.S. gold.
For the first time in 15 years, the World Women’s champions were from America. Wendell was named tournament MVP, while Gunn was named IIHF Directorate Best Goalie for her sensational play in the gold-medal game.
This win marked the turning point for the U.S. women who have gone on to win nine of the last eleven WW tournaments between 2005 and 2019.
Click here for the overview of stories.