Canada Beats U.S. in Shootout in the Women's Hockey Championships

The Americans fell in the shootout round

April 7, 2007

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -Hayley Wickenheiser beat Jessie Vetter in a shootout, and Charline Labonte stopped all three shots she faced in the tiebreaker to give Canada a 5-4 victory over the United States in the women's world hockey championships Saturday.

The game was the opener in the three-team group winners round robin, with the top two teams advancing to the final Tuesday night. The United States will face Finland on Sunday, and Canada will play the Finns on Monday.

After Wickenheiser scored, Labonte stopped Gigi Marvin for the victory.

Labonte also turned away Julie Chu and Natalie Darwitz. Vetter stopped Canada's first shooter, Sarah Vaillancourt.

Wickenheiser had a goal and two assists in regulation, and Kelly Bechard, Vaillancourt and Gillian Apps also scored in front of a crowd of 15,003 at MTS Centre. Jenny Potter, Krissy Wendell, Marvin and Darwitz scored for the United States.

Labonte stopped 25 shots, and Vetter made 26 saves.