Barrie (ON), Sunday March 27 2011
The Montréal Hockey Club crowned a perfect tournament with the Clarkson Cup, winning all three round-robin games and then the final, against Toronto, with a score of 5-0. The Montréal team returns home with the highest distinction in North American women’s hockey, the Clarkson Cup. The champions will hold a press conference tomorrow at 1PM.
Despite considerable pressure, the Montréal team demonstrated the many qualities which kept them at the top of the standings of the CWHL throughout the season – brilliant offensive plays, a rock-solid defense, and, most importantly, a tight cohesion both on and off the ice.
Noémie Marin opened the scoring early in the first period, assisted by Caroline Ouellette. Vanessa Davidson scored Montréal’s second goal, on an assist from Dominique Thibault. Thibault, who had already posted a hat trick in a previous game of this tournament, scored the only goal of the second period, with Annie Guay contributing the assist. The Montréal team protected their shut-out with two more goals in the third period, the first by Caroline Ouellette, assisted by Julie Chu, and the second by Sarah Vaillancourt, assisted by Ouellette.
Sarah Vaillancourt was honoured as the MVP for the tournament.
This is the second Clarkson Cup victory by the Montreal Stars who won it the inaugural year in 2009.