York women’s hockey coach keeps winning-streak alive with national under-22 team

York Lions women’s hockey head coach Dan Church improved his record to 4-0 as head coach of Canada’s under-22 team as the Canadians beat Russia 13-2 in the opener of the European Air Canada Cup yesterday in Germany.

Right: Dan Church

Meghan Agosta scored a hat trick and added two assists, while linemate Valerie Chouinard had a goal and four assists to lead Canada to victory. Canada concludes the round-robin portion of the competition today at 2pm when it faces Germany. The semi-finals are slated for Saturday at 10am and 2pm, while the final goes on Sunday at 2pm.

Canada has won the European Air Canada Cup all five times it has played in the tournament.

After a selection camp at York in August, Church took the national under-22 team to Lake Placid, NY, for a three-game series against the United States this past summer. Canada won all three games, marking the first time the Canadians had swept the series since the teams began playing each other in 1999.

Church will return to York next week. Assistant coach Stacey Colarossi will coach the Lions this weekend when they play host to the Queen’s Golden Gaels on Saturday at 2pm and the UOIT Ridgebacks on Sunday at 2pm, at Canlan Ice Sports.