Hockey

Canada got its confidence back in time for the Four Nations Cup women's hockey tournament.

Two straight wins over archrival U.S. and a record well above .500 in the men's Alberta Midget Hockey League has boosted self-assurance previously lacking for Canada.

The Canadian women open the Four Nations Cup on Tuesday in Vierumaki, Finland, against Sweden before taking on the host country Wednesday in Kerava.

Canada and the U.S. meet Friday back in Vierumaki. The two countries with the best records in the preliminary round of the tournament play for gold Saturday in Tikkurila.

The annual Four Nations Cup is the last international tournament for Canada before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., starting Feb. 12.

Canada, winner of the last two Olympic gold medals, and the U.S., winner of two straight world championships, are expected to meet for Olympic gold Feb. 25. Sweden and Finland have an outside chance at an upset in Vancouver.

The Four Nations Cup marks the final time Canada faces the Finns and Swedes before the Olympics. The U.S. and Canada will meet in four more exhibition games after the tournament.

"We've done really well on some key points and we're building good habits,'' said forward Gina Kingsbury of Rouyn-Noranda, Que. "We can't sit back now. I think that will be crucial to bring that to the Four Nations.

"I don't think this team will ever be complacent after the last two years.''

After losing twice to the U.S. in September's Hockey Canada Cup - an Olympic test event at Vancouver's GM Place - Canada fell to 2-6 in eight meetings versus the Americans.

The U.S. had the advantage of having more players together longer. Those who weren't in college spent last winter training and playing games in Blaine, Minn.

While the Canadians got together for training camps or competitions every month in 2008-09, the 26 players invited to try out for the 2010 Olympic team didn't congregate full-time in Calgary until Aug. 2.

The Americans were the more cohesive, confident unit at the Hockey Canada Cup the first week of September.

But Canada's game has come together since then with 3-1 and 5-2 victories Oct. 1 in Victoria and Oct. 16 respectively in Spokane, Wash.

On defence in particular, Canada is less apt to panic and turn the puck over under pressure from the speedy Americans.

The Canadians' 10-2 record against AMHL teams contributed to their upswing in performance internationally. The women are tested weekly and succeeding for the most part against the boys in games similar in pace and intensity to matches versus the U.S.

Canada looked like a team team doubting themselves in 2-1 and 4-2 losses to the Americans in Vancouver. That uncertainty has been replaced by the knowledge that their Olympic preparation seems to be working.

"To be honest, I feel like we're a different team almost,'' veteran forward Jayna Hefford said. "The obvious side is that we've been winning a little bit more and had some success against the U.S. I think as a team we feel confident, we feel comfortable.

"We've had so much success, we feel really good going into this tournament.''

The 32-year-old from Kingston, Ont., is Canada's most reliable producer lately with eight goals and six assists in 12 games versus AMHL clubs, plus three assists in those two recent victories against the U.S. women.

Meghan Agosta of Ruthven, Ont., has three goals in two games against the U.S., as well as four goals and six assists against the AMHL. Montreal's Caroline Ouellette scored twice in the two wins against the Americans and has four goals and seven assists against the men's midget clubs.

Goaltenders Kim St-Pierre of Chateauguay, Que., and Edmonton's Shannon Szabados each had 30-plus saves versus the U.S. to open the six-game exhibition series.

Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., has returned to the lineup after two months rehabilitating a sprained ankle, so expect to see her get a turn in net versus the U.S. during the Four Nations.

Canada scored three third-period goals Sunday en route to a 4-2 exhibition win over Sweden in Stockholm.

The Canadians will have played over 60 games in six months by the time the women's Olympic hockey tournament starts Feb. 13, which is about 45 more games than they'd play in a non-Olympic season.

Head coach Melody Davidson says an abundance of game experience increases her team's poise in difficult situations.