Daoust tallies four points as Canada routs Russians 8-3 to win gold at Meco Cup

FÜSSEN, Germany – Melodie Daoust, a forward with the McGill University women's hockey team, scored a pair of goals and assisted on two others as Canada coasted to an 8-3 victory over Russia in the gold medal final of the 2013 Meco Cup under-22 hockey tournament at the Füssen Arena, Sunday.
Canada led 3-2 after one period and 5-2 after two in a spirited affair that featured 56 minutes in penalties, including 32 to the Russians.
Daoust, a native of Valleyfield, Que., who was the CIS rookie of the year last season, tied for the Team Canada scoring lead with five points over the three-game tourney. She registered one assist in a 4-0 conquest over Switzerland, Jan.3 and was held off the scoresheet in a 2-0 shutout over Finland, Jan.5. She also contributed two helpers in an 8-1 pre-tourney exhibition victory over Germany on Jan.2. The all-Canadian winger is currently second on the Martlets in scoring this season with an 18-24-42 record in 17 games overall.
A 21-year-old physical education sophomore, Daoust opened the scoring against Russia at 11:01 of a wild first period. The lead held up for just 13 seconds until Ekaterina Lebdeva netted the tying marker.
Canada regained the advantage at 13:21 when Daoust set up Clarkson's Jamie Lee Rattray of Kanata, Ont. but the Russians roared back to tie the score at 2-2 at 17:15 when Tatiana Burina scored her first of two.
The Canucks regained the lead two minutes later when Dartmouth's Laura Stacey of Kleinburg, Ont., hit paydirt at 19:14.
In the second period, Daoust set up Cornell's Brianne Jenner of Oakville, Ont., to make it 4-2 with what proved to be the game-winner at 3:11. Just over three minutes later, Daoust registered her second goal of the night.
Rounding out the scoring in the final stanza for Canada was Minnesota-Duluth's Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man., Carolyne Prévost of Sarnia, Ont., and Harvard's Sarah Edney of Mississauga, Ont. The latter two were both empty-net goals.
It was Canada's third gold medal in four years at the tourney, formerly known as the MLP Cup and Air Canada Cup.
“It was a very mature team,” said Team Canada head coach Pierre Alain. “They handled everything perfectly... (our) team-building was very good.”
Goaltender Christina Kessler of Mississauga, Ont., collected the win for Canada but shots on net were not announced.
Finland defeated Germany 6-3 in the bronze medal game, while Sweden edged Switzerland 4-3 in overtime to finish fifth in the six-team event.