Fast pots a pair as Canada routs Sweden, advances to semis at women's hockey worlds

Renata Fast scored twice to lead Canada in a 5-1 win over Sweden in a women's world hockey championship quarterfinal Thursday.

The Canadians meet back-to-back bronze medallist the Czech Republic in a semifinal Saturday. Defending champion United States was to face Japan in the remaining quarterfinal Thursday night.

Laura Stacey, Natalie Spooner and Jaime Bourbonnais were goal scorers for Canada, which has goal production from 11 different players in the tournament.

Defender Jocelyne Larocque contributed a pair of assists in the win.

Hilda Svensson scored for Sweden.

Canada required a Sarah Nurse overtime goal to put the Swedes away 3-2 in last year's quarterfinal in Brampton, Ont., but finished the job in regulation Thursday.

Emerance Maschmeyer got the nod in Canada's net for the quarterfinal as she did in Brampton, with Kristen Campbell backing her up. Maschmeyer made 17 saves.

Sweden's Emma Soderberg, who had 51 saves against the Canadians last year, stopped 39 at the Adirondack Bank Center.

The Canadians led 2-1 and 3-1 at period breaks of a heavy quarterfinal of collisions and grinding checks along the boards.

Lina Ljungblom backhanded the puck by a prone Maschmeyer midway through the third period, but officials ruled the play had been whistled dead.

Sweden quickly took a cross-checking minor and gave up two goals in the span of less than a minute.

Bourbonnais beat Soderberg with a low shot far side at 14:42. Emma Maltais' hard work behind the net paid dividends for Spooner striking from close range at 13:56.

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Canada's power play went 0-for-4 in the game and was 1-for-14 for the tournament.

Sweden had chances to draw even early in the second when