Coach Turcotte helps Canada earn gold
Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team head coach Darren Turcotte will be back in his office this week with something new hanging around his neck.
Turcotte, along with the other members of Team Canada's entry in the 2016 Nations Cup claimed gold this past weekend in Fussen, Germany after a thrilling overtime win over Finland in the gold medal game.
The 22 players named to Canada's roster include two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards and features seven returning gold-medallists from its 2015 Nations Cup roster.
The Nations Cup, formerly known as the Air Canada Cup, MLP Cup and Meco Cup, brings together Canada's National Women's Development Team and national teams from Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland for a four-day international tournament.
Canada's roster was chosen by Melody Davidson, Hockey Canada's general manager of national women's team programs, and Hockey Canada's team of regional scouts, along with head coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk (Winnipeg, Man./Hockey Manitoba) assistant coaches Delaney Collins (Pilot Mound, Man./Mercyhurst University, CHA) and Turcotte, along with goaltending coach Amanda Mazzotta (London, Ont./Quinnipiac University, ECAC).
Canada is a 10-time gold-medallist at the Nations Cup, winning gold in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015. Canada finished with the bronze medal at the 2012 Meco Cup.
Gold Medal Game
Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) scored the golden goal, netting her second of the game 48 seconds into overtime to give Canada's National Women's Development Team a 4-3 win over Finland in the gold medal game Thursday at the 2016 Nations Cup.
It's the 11th time Canada has won gold at the tournament since first taking part in 2003.
Rebecca Kohler (St. Thomas, Ont./University of North Dakota, WCHA) and Victoria Bach (Milton, Ont./Boston University, HE) had the other goals for the Canadians, while Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont./University of Minnesota, WCHA) made 22 saves to record the win.
Canada had the advantage early, outshooting Finland 8-5 in the first period, but it took until the 5:55 mark of the second for Kohler to open the scoring on an unassisted effort.
Rattray's first goal doubled the Canadian lead just 1:28 after Kohler's goal, but Jenni Hiirikoski made good on a Finnish power play to get the Europeans back within one midway through the middle frame.
Bach was quick to answer for Canada, restoring the two-goal lead at 16:20 before Mira Jalosuo beat Leveille with less than a second to go in the period, sending the Finns to dressing room down just one.
Anna Kilponen pulled Finland even 3:12 into the third period, and Leveille and Finnish counterpart Meiri Raisanen held the offences in check from there, leading to Rattray's overtime heroics.
Rattray finished as Canada's leading scorer, scoring five goals and adding two assists in three games.