Hockey

Caroline Ouellette tallied a hat trick to hoist the Canadian women's hockey team to a huge 6-1 win over the South Side Athletic Club in Midget AAA action in Edmonton, Alta.

Ouellette of Montreal, Que. opened scoring for her team on a power play at 5:08 in the first period. From that point on there was no stopping the Canadian women. Both Sarah Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, Que.) and Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que.) scored before the period was up.

The second period was scoreless for both teams, but Ouellette kicked off the third on a night note, pocketing a goal on assists from Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, Sask.) and Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, Alta.) on another power play opportunity at 7:17 in the period.

The last two goals for Canada came within thirty seconds of each other, with Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont.) taking advantage of passes from Vaillancourt and Mikkelson at 18:53 and Ouellette topping off the score at 6-1 with assists going to Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont.) and Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont.) at 18:23.

Canada improved its record to 7-3 in Midget Series play.

Mikkelson also collected three points, while Shannon Szabados, of Edmonton, Alta. had a posted 28 saves in the win. The Canadian women continue with back-to-back games in Midget Series Action on Friday night with a game in Leduc.