April 7, 1996
NR.036

CANADA WRAPS-UP SEASON WITH 7-2 WIN OVER RUSSIA

ROUYN-NORANDA (Quebec) - Calgary's Jamie Steer scored twice, including the game-winner at 2:42 of the second period to lead Canada's national men's hockey team to a 7-2 win over Russia today in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec.

The national squad completed its 53-game schedule with 33 wins, 12 losses and eight ties. Their season took them across Western Canada, Ontario, Norway, Finland, Italy, Austria, France, and Russia.

The Russians jumped to a quick 1-0 lead, scoring 50 seconds into the game, but Kelly Askew of Calgary tied the score at one each after 20 minutes of play.

The Canadians then took control of the game going into the dressing room at the end of the second period with a 3-2 advantage, on Steer's two goals.

The clincher for the nats was the four unanswered goals recorded in the final 20-minute frame. The goals were scored by team captain, Brad Layzell of Beaconsfield, Quebec, Askew with his second, Vancouver's Mark Kaufman, and Jeff MacLeod of Dartmouth, N.S.

Head coach, Tom Renney, along with general manager Pierre Gauthier and his assistant coaches, will now concentrate their efforts on the 1996 World Championship in Vienna, Austria, from April 21 to May 5. Gauthier and Renney will name the 1996 Team Canada roster on Tuesday, April 16 at 12 noon at a news conference in Toronto.

Following a short three-week break after the World Championship, Renney and Johnston will then travel across the country holding evaluation camps for players interested in representing Canada during the 1996-97 season.