Mar 27, 2016
Johnston hat trick paces Canadian women to exhibition win over Sweden
Rebecca Johnston led Canada to a 9-0 win over Sweden in Saturday's tuneup for the 2016 women's world hockey championship. Canada opens the championship Monday against defending champion United States in Kamloops, B.C.
The Canadian Press
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Rebecca Johnston had a sense of occasion.
The 26-year-old forward from Sudbury, Ont., scored a hat trick to celebrate her 100th career game with the Canadian women's hockey team.
Johnston led Canada to a 9-0 win over Sweden in Saturday's tuneup for the 2016 women's world hockey championship.
Canada opens the championship Monday against defending champion United States in Kamloops, B.C.
Johnston will play in her seventh world championship for Canada this year. She's also won Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
"I just found out a couple of days ago it was going to be my 100th, so it was an exciting game for me obviously," Johnston said. "I didn't think I would make it to that. A hundred games is a lot, you know?
"I'm privileged to play that many games and honoured to be able to wear that jersey that many times."
Toronto's Natalie Spooner and Jennifer Wakefield of Pickering, Ont., each scored a pair of goals with Meghan Agosta of Ruthven, Ont., and defenceman Halli Krzyzaniak of Neepawa, Man., also scoring.
Goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer of Bruderheim, Alta., earned the 16-save shutout.
Spooner had a four-point night with a pair of assists. Brigette Lacquette of Mallard, Man., and Jillian Saulnier of Halifax each collected three assists.
Minatsu Murase took the loss for the Swedes and was replaced by Sara Grahn after giving up Canada's fifth goal. The Canadians peppered them with 43 shots. Sweden opens Monday against the Czech Republic.
The Canadian women have spent the past week at a training camp in Penticton, B.C.
Prior to Friday's arrival in Kamloops, they earned a 3-2 shootout win and suffered a 5-4 overtime loss in exhibition games against a boys' team out of the Okanangan Hockey Academy.
"In the last three games, I've seen what we've needed to see to make sure that we're ready to go," Canadian head coach Laura Schuler said.
"We were able to play two exhibition games against the Okanagan boys' hockey academy. They really tested us in terms of our speed and our ability to play fast and the defensive part of our game.
"Tonight, things seemed to be clicking for us offensively. It seemed to be a complete picture for us now."