USA Women's Hockey

CALGARY, Alta. – A five-point effort by Ashley Cottrell (Sterling Heights, Mich.), along with a hat trick from Brooke Ammerman (River Vale, N.J.), led the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team to an 11-0 blanking of Switzerland in the second preliminary-round game for both teams at the inaugural 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U18 Championship here tonight at the Father David Bauer Arena.

Team USA out shot the Swiss team by a 63-4 count as 11 players contributed to the scoring, including six who had three or more points on the night. The Americans (2-0-0-0) will take on Sweden (2-0-0-0) in the third and final preliminary-round game for both teams tomorrow night at 4:15 p.m. The winner will finish first in Group B.

"We were much better tonight," said Katey Stone, head coach for Team USA and also the head women's ice hockey coach at Harvard University. "We were on our toes, dictated the play and created some great opportunities. Again we got scoring from everywhere and our special teams were clicking well. I'm definitely pleased and hope that we keep ratcheting up the pace with each game."

The first U.S. goal came at the tail-end of Team USA's first power-play opportunity of the night as Ammerman shoveled the puck past goaltender Sophie Anthamatten at 3:47 of the opening frame. The Americans extended their lead to 2-0 when a rush up the right-side boards resulted in captain Sarah Erickson (LaPorte, Minn.) dumping the puck in front of the net and Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill.) tapping it in behind the Swiss netminder at the 4:54 mark.

Ammerman tallied her second goal of the game at 8:31 of the first when she took advantage of a scramble in front of the Swiss net to beat Anthamatten at the left post. Team USA then scored a quick pair of tallies in the closing minutes of the frame to take a 5-0 lead. Erickson was set up by Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) in the slot, where Erickson roofed it at 18:27 during a U.S. man-advantage. The duo combined for the last goal of the period at 19:46, as Erickson carried the puck into the Swiss zone on the left side off a pass from Kessel and put one between the goalie's legs.

Team USA scored the lone second-period goal at 10:40 when a give-and-go byMadison Packer (Birmingham, Mich.) and Cottrell gave way to Cottrell's third goal of the tournament and a six-goal U.S. lead. By the end of 40 minutes of play, the United States held a 43-4 shots advantage.

The Americans put five more goals on the board in the final stanza for their second straight 11-0 victory. Ammerman completed her hat trick at 3:49 when she used a spin move in front of the net to put Alev Kelter's (Eagle River, Alaska) shot from the point through Anthamatten's legs. Corey Stearns (Falmouth, Mass.) netted her first Team USA goal at 7:21 on the power play from Packer to put the United States up 8-0.

Cottrell added to the U.S. lead at 7:54, before Stearns put home Kelley Steadman's (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) rebound while shorthanded at 11:25. Packer closed out the scoring with her fifth of the tournament at 15:44 when she knocked the puck through the five-hole from the right-side goal line.

NOTES: Ashley Cottrell was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... Alyssa Grogan(Eagan, Minn.) recorded the U.S. shutout with a total of four saves ... Team USA went 3-for-8 on the power play, while holding Switzerland 0-for-5 with the man advantage ... Seven different players had multiple-point nights, led by Cottrell (2-3--5) ... The goals scored by Kendall Coyne and Corey Stearns were their first career U.S. goals ... JoiningKatey Stone on the coaching staff as assistant coaches are Erin Whitten Hamlen, associate women’s ice hockey coach at the University of New Hampshire, and Bob Deraney, head women’s ice hockey coach at Providence College.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA

5 1 5 -- 11
SUI 0 0 0 -- 0

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Ammerman (Cottrell, Kelter), 3:47 (pp); 2, USA, Erickson (Kessel), 4:54; 3, USA, Ammerman (Decker), 8:31; 4, USA, Erickson (Kessel), 18:27 (pp); 5, USA, Erickson (Kessel, Kelter), 19:46. Penalties: SUI, Rigoli (tripping), 1:50; SUI, Stiefel (interference), 5:30; USA, Sherry (hooking), 12:45; SUI, Waidacher (slashing), 14:35; SUI, Balanche (holding), 17:47.

Second Period - Scoring: 6, USA, Cottrell (Packer), 10:40. Penalties: USA, Coyne (interference), 1:34; USA, Decker (charging), 7:56; SUI, Hochuli (tripping), 17:50.

Third Period - Scoring: 7, USA, Ammerman (Kelter), 3:49 (pp); 8, USA, Stearns (Packer, Cottrell), 7:21; 9, USA, Cottrell (Wild), 7:54; 10, USA, Stearns (Steadman), 11:25 (sh); 11, USA, Packer (Cottrell), 15:44 (4x4). Penalties: SUI, Benz (hooking), 6:58; SUI, Stiefel (kneeing), 9:19; USA, Decker (tripping), 9:35; USA, Ammerman (tripping), 13:44; SUI, Waidacher (tripping), 15:22.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA   24 19 20 63
SUI   2 2 0 4
           
Goaltenders (SH/SV)   1 2 3 Total
USA, Grogan, 60:00   2-2 2-2 0-0 4-4
SUI, Anthamatten, 60:00   24-19 19-18 20-15 63-52

Power Play:USA 3-8; SUI 0-5

Penalties: USA 5-10; SUI 8-16
Officials:Referee-Katerina Ivicicova (CZE); Linesmen-Marina Konstantinova (RUS), Kerri Rumble (CAN)