±«ÓãÖ±²¥

HÄMEENLINNA, Finland – Catherine Ward, a blueliner with the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Martlets, registered up an assist and Kim St-Pierre, a ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ graduate from Chateauguay, Que., posted an 18-save shutout as Canada swarmed Sweden with a 7-0 whitewash in preliminary play at the world hockey championship in Finland, Monday.

Ìý

Canada had a 39-18 margin in shots as they clinched first place in their pool and advanced to the medal round.

Ìý

St-Pierre made a key save on a screened shot by Cecilia Ostberg late in the second period to preserve a 3-0 lead and she held off a Swedish charge late in the third when they had a two-man advantage.

Ìý

Ward, an all-Canadian rearguard from Town of Mt. Royal, Que., earned her second assist of the tourney when she set up Marie-Philip Poulin on Canada’s first marker of the third period to put the Canucks ahead 4-0.

Defenceman Carla MacLeod of Calgary paced Canada's offence with a goal and four assists. Captain Hayley Wickenheiser scored shorthanded for her third of the tournament and 19-year-old Rebecca Johnston of Sudbury, Ont., also notched her third.

Poulin of Beauceville, Que., and Montreal ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Caroline Ouellette each contributed their second goal in as many games. Colleen Sostorics of Kennedy, Sask., chipped in a power-play goal and Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill also scored for Canada.

Canada exacted revenge for its first loss ever to Sweden in their previous meeting, which the Swedes won 2-1 in overtime at the Four Nations Cup in November. That loss in Lake Placid, N.Y., ended Canada’s 56-game unbeaten run against Sweden. The Swedes earned their first win over Canada on the strength of two power-play goals. Canada's penalty-killers killed off six chances Monday, including a five-on-three in the third.

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý