Canada's Gardiner posts 3 points, Campbell pitches shutout in world championship debuts
CBC
The first game puck didn't last long.
Jennifer Gardiner's world championship debut for the Canadian women's hockey team featured her first goal, her second, and an assist in a 5-0 blanking of Finland on Thursday.
The ritual reward of a game puck wrapped in hockey tape inscribed with the date of the first goal resulted in a puck confiscated by 6:02 of the opening period when Gardiner produced the game's first goal at Ceske Budejovice Arena.
"It was one of the first things I was handed and a pretty incredible feeling, just to get it from my teammates, who were so supportive all night, and just have really created such a great environment to be part of," Gardiner said.
"To be able to score a goal is a huge honour and hope to continue it throughout the rest of the tournament."
The 23-year-old from Surrey, B.C., collected her second goal in the first minute of the second period after setting up captain Marie-Philip Poulin for a goal late in the first.
WATCH | Gardiner paces Canadian attack with 3 points against Finland:
Canadian goaltender Kristen Campbell was also due a souvenir after a 24-save shutout in her world championship debut.
"I think a puck," Campbell said. "The equipment manager was trying to find another puck, but we'll see if it happens."
Poulin and Ella Shelton each contributed a goal and an assist and Emma Maltais also scored for the defending champions in their tournament opener.
The Canadians faced a tight turnaround ahead of their second Pool A game at 3 p.m. local time Friday against the Swiss (0-1).
Gardiner's second goal halted the night of Finnish starter Emilia Kyrkko, who gave up four goals on 13 shots. Anni Keisala made 21 saves in relief in front of an announced crowd of 1,128.
The Montreal Victoire's top line of Gardiner, Poulin and Laura Stacey brought their PWHL dynamic to Czechia.
Stacey dished the puck low to Gardiner behind the net and a quick feed to Poulin on Finland's doorstep gave Canada a 3-0 lead heading into the second period.
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