April 10, 2008

Harbin, China - Canada and the United States will meet Saturday halfway around the world for the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship. The participants for the gold-medal game were determined earlier today when the United States rallied from a 2-1 first period deficit to defeat Canada 4-2. Mercyhurst players Meghan Agosta and Valerie Chouinard are members of Team Canada.

The NHL Network will broadcast the game "live". The contest will be televised at 7 a.m. EDT on Saturday (April 12). The USA-Canada game will re-air on NHL Network in the U.S. at 4:30 p.m. EDT Saturday (April 12) and Tuesday (April 15) at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

Saturday's game will mark the 11th time in as many World Championships that the two teams will battle for the gold.

A Canadian win over the U.S. today would have created a first. Finland would have qualified for thr title game against Canada and would have become the first team outside North America to compete for the gold.

Canada has won nine gold medals and one silver, losing 1-0 in a shootout to the U.S. in the 2005 title game in Sweden.

Both teams are 3-1 in tournament play. The United States owns wins over Germany (8-1), Sweden (7-1), and Canada (4-2). Its only setback came to Finland 1-0.

Canada defeated Russia (8-1), China (11-0), and Finland (4-2) before today's loss to the United States.

Agosta scored twice in the win over Russia and has three goals and 17 shots overall. She had no points in today's contest against the United States. Chouinard is listed as an alternate and has yet to see action.