Russia wins Gold, but Two Medals will return to Canada …

GRANADA – Today, 12 February, the medal games in the women’s ice hockey competition were played. Japan beat China 3-1 to win the bronze. The gold medal game between Russia and Canada was a genuine thriller final. Both countries played each other in the preliminary round where the Russian beat Canada in a historical game marking Canada’s first loss since the addition of women’s ice hockey on the Winter Universiade sports programme in Harbin, China (2009). A nearly full Sports Palace filled with Canadian – GO CANADA – and Russian – SHAYBA, SHAYBA [puck, puck!] – chants was the perfect setting for this nail biter.Alexandra Vafina

The first period stayed scoreless while Russia opened the score in the second, taking the lead, never looking back, blanking Canada 3-0.

“It was a tough game in the group and in the final. We had to bring it to this final game all the way and it feels good”, Alexandra Vafina commented. “We had to start on a high note and keep going. Together with Iya [Gavrilova] we know a bunch of our Canadians opponents as we play for the Dinos of the University of Calgary. So we play against them in our regular season. We told our Russian teammates, it’s nothing we cannot battle, we have to do it and we can.” The Russian girls did not change their preparation for this historical game. “We didn’t really specially prepare otherwise for this golden game. We just followed our normal pregame ritual.” Alexandra is also a former Olympian playing for Russia at the Vancouver Olympics and she sees similarities in both events. “Of course the Olympics are bigger and there is more stress, but both the Olympics and the Universiade are major multi-sports events that have a great atmosphere.” When asked if she was going to dangle her gold medal in front of her teammates back at University in Canada, she laughed. “No, I won’t do such a silly thing. For me this is just another important step in my career, being the best athlete I can be.”

“We knew it was going be a tough game from the start”, Team Captain Iya Gavrilova and Calgary teammate added. “Canada stepped it up and played very physical, but we were ready for this game.” No showing off the gold in front of Canadian teammates for Iya neither. “That for sure is not gonna happen. We played for team Russia and ourselves. I’m very happy, I’m proud of my team and every single player of it”, she concludes.

Iya Gavrilova

Although Canada lost gold, Ben Matchett Assistant Athletic Director of the University of Calgary and Media Liaison for the Canadian delegation is not too sad about the loss. “It’s actually funny, I don’t have any U of C players on the Canadian women’s team, but two on the Russian team, so our school gets two golden athletes anyway”, Ben chuckles. “Congrats to the Russian team by the way, they deserved the gold as they were the better team tonight. Hopefully we get the gold with our men’s team as we got five players from the Dinos on the men’s roster. We’ll see.”

Text & Photos: Christian Pierre, Press Officer