Nova Scotia women's hockey team takes silver medal at Canada Winter Games

Team Nova Scotia lost 3-0 to B.C. on Sunday in the women's hockey gold-medal game at the Canada Winter Games in P.E.I.

The silver medal is the first medal for an Atlantic women's hockey team in Canada Games history. The game was played in Summersidewith the stands packed with Nova Scotia fans.

Nova Scotia coach Kori Cheveriesaid in a post-game interview that her team had a great week in P.E.I.

"Hopefully, we've sparked some momentum within our own province for young girls and young boys playing hockey," she said.

B.C. outshot Nova Scotia 25-5 in the first period. Nova Scotia goalie RhyahStewart kept the game scoreless.

But B.C. broke through in the middle period on goals by Mikayla Blomquist and Maddie Leaney, on a breakaway, for a 2-0 lead.

Danica Maynard got a shot past Stewart with eight minutes remaining in the game for a three-goal B.C. lead. It is the first gold medal for B.C. in Canada Games women's hockey.

Nova Scotia reached the final by defeating Ontario 3-2 in a semifinal Saturday night.

Ontario, with four straight gold medals in women's hockey between 1995-2007, led 2-0 before Nova Scotia rallied on goals by Jessica MacKinnon, team captain Sam Morrison and Rachel Walsh. Stewart had 46 saves.

B.C. defeated Quebec 6-1 in the other semifinal Saturday. Ontario bounced back Sunday to take the bronze medal 3-1 over Quebec.

Women's hockey entered the Canada Games in 1991. Nova Scotia's best finish prior to Sunday was fifth place in 2003.

It is the first hockey medal for Nova Scotia since the men's team won its second consecutive silver medal in 1979.

"It's amazing. I honestly am still shaking from it,"Morrisontold CBC Radio's Mainstreet Halifax on Monday."I can't believe it happened. It was just great knowing that we were going to play for a medal, but to make it as far as the finals was surreal."

Morrison said she's proud to be part ofa growing number of women who playhockey.

"No matter what people tell you and no matter what kind of adversity you're going to face, you got to keep pushing if it's what you really want, and follow your dreams, work hard and continue down whatever path you want to succeed at."

Gold in men's curling

The women's hockey result brought Nova Scotia's medal total in P.E.I. to 23, adding to the province's record for a Canada Winter Games.

There was one more medal for Nova Scotia Sunday.

The men's curling team of Owain Fisher, Nathan Gray, Calan MacIsaac and Christopher McCurdybeat B.C. 7-3 for the gold medal.Nova Scotia concluded the Games with seven gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals.

Nova Scotia's women's curling teamof Sophie Blades, Kate Weissent, SteffiAtherton and Alexis Cluney won gold last week.