Canada kicks off final leg of Sinclair's farewell tour with rout of Australia in B.C.
CBC
Nichelle Prince scored twice as Canada thumped an experimental Australia lineup 5-0 Friday in Christine Sinclair's penultimate international game.
The 10th-ranked Canadians had their way with the 11th-ranked Matildas on a wet night. Cloe Lacasse, Simi Awujo and Adriana Leon also scored for Canada, which led 2-0 at the half in Langford, B.C.
Sinclair, the world's all-time leading scorer with 190 goals, came on in the 63rd minute for her 330th cap with Canada up 5-0.
Sinclair will call time on her international career against the same opposition Tuesday in her backyard before a crowd of 41,000-plus at B.C. Place Stadium, which is being renamed Christine Sinclair Place for the night.
A gala celebration in Sinclair's honour, complete with a performance by Dallas Smith, is planned the next night at the same venue.
WATCH | Christine Sinclair shares special pre-game ceremony with her nieces:
Canada dominated from the get-go and went ahead in the 10th minute when Prince dispossessed captain Clare Polkinghorne in the Australian penalty box and beat goalkeeper Teagan Micah with a low shot to the corner.
Prince, Leon and Vanessa Gilles had good scoring chances as the first half wore on. Prince made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute, redirecting a low Ashley Lawrence cross for her 16th goal for Canada.
It could have been 5-0 by halftime. Jordyn Huitema came on for Prince at the break.
WATCH | Prince scores twice in dominant win over Australia:
Lacasse made it 3-0 in the 49th, pilfering the ball from an Australian defender and steaming into the penalty box before beating Micah with a low shot.
Leon made it 5-0 in the 62nd minute with a header — her 31st goal for Canada — as the Australian defence was carved open again.
Sophie Schmidt, who is also bowing out Tuesday, came on late in the game for her 225th cap. Sinclair had a chance in the 71st minute but Micah got to the ball just before she did.
Gustavsson brought on more experienced players late in the game, with the outcome already decided.
Zayne Parekh didn't have much interest in the high-water mark he had just surpassed.
Canada will play for bronze at the world junior hockey championship.
Chris Jones reports from Milan ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics.
Cole Reschny tuned into the world junior hockey championship with his family growing up.
On the ice inside a rink in Etobicoke, Ont., where Team Canada was running its second Olympic training camp this past fall, head coach Troy Ryan skated over to Blayre Turnbull.
Canadian ski jumper Abi Strate started the new year with a bang by soaring to her first career World Cup victory on Thursday.
It’s been nearly 12 years since an Olympic gold medal was placed around Sidney Crosby’s neck.