Canada Reclaims Women's Hockey Title

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Canada reclaimed the women's world hockey championship with a 5-1 victory over the United States on Tuesday night.

Canada, winners of the Olympic gold medal last year, lost the last world championship two years ago to the U.S. in a shootout.

Jennifer Botterill, Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Danielle Goyette and Sarah Vaillancourt scored for Canada before an announced sellout of 15,003 at the MTS Centre. Kim St. Pierre stopped 20 of 21 shots for the win.

Wickenheiser, Canada's captain, was selected as the game's top player, tournament MVP and best forward by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

"I think we saved our best game for the final," Wickenheiser said. "I think we really dominated them tonight, I'm proud we could win in Canada and for these fans in Winnipeg."

Krissy Wendell scored for the U.S. and Chanda Gunn made 29 saves.

"We played OK tonight," U.S. coach Mark Johnson said. "But OK doesn't get it done."

Sweden beat Finland 1-0 earlier for the bronze medal.

Canada and the U.S. have met in the final of all 10 women's world championships. Canada took the first eight titles before the Americans captured their first in 2005.

Canada had beaten the U.S. 5-4 in a shootout Saturday.

Canada scored three straight goals in the second period Tuesday and added another in the third before Wendell scored for the U.S.

Down 4-1 late in the third, the Americans pressed for a goal and gave up a breakaway to Vaillancourt, who scored her second of the tournament at 17:16.

Wendell ended St. Pierre's shutout bid at 10:08 of the third when she was left unchecked and St. Pierre was down trying to control a rebound.

Goyette scored her sixth goal of the tournament off a broken play in the offensive zone and her sharp-angled shot squeaked by Gunn at 9:22.

Wickenheiser scored her eighth of the tournament and Canada's third of the game at 16:27 of the second. Her wrist shot from the faceoff circle beat Gunn high to the glove side.

Hefford's goal at 11:33 required British referee Joy Tottman to validate it by video review.

Hefford's backhand shot disappeared under Gunn and the Canadian bench endured a tense minute until Tottman signaled the puck had cross the goal-line.

Hometown favorite Botterill scored just 58 seconds into the second. Her sharp-angled shot deflected off the skate of U.S. defender Caitlin Cahow and past Gunn's glove.