US ice sledge hockey team defeats Canada 3-1
28.03.2015Kevin McKee and Declan Farmer are the star players in the second of the three game series ahead of the A-Pool Worlds in less than one month’s time.
Declan Farmer celebrates after scoring a goal against Canada in the ice sledge hockey semi-finals at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
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“We dealt with some adversity today but everyone stepped up and did a great job, especially in the third period,”
Kevin McKee scored twice and Declan Farmer tallied three assists to lead the US National Sledge Hockey Team past Canada, 3-1, on Friday (27 March) at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, North Carolina, USA.
“We dealt with some adversity today but everyone stepped up and did a great job, especially in the third period,” said Guy Gosselin, acting head coach of the US National Sledge Hockey Team. “Both teams came out to play and fortunately we came out on top.”
McKee opened the scoring for Team USA just 2:24 into the game when he finished off a passing play from Brody Roybal and Farmer. Canada’s Marc Dorion evened the score a minute later with a redirection from the left circle that found its way by Steve Cash.
The goal was Canada’s first in four meetings between the two teams and ended Cash’s shutout streak against the Canadians at just over 250 minutes of play. The US regained the lead midway through the period when McKee beat Canada goaltender Corbin Watson with a wrist shot that rang off the crossbar and in.
After a scoreless second stanza, both teams traded chances early in the final frame. With five minutes remaining and Canada pressing for the equaliser, Farmer stole the puck in the defensive zone and sent Adam Page on a breakaway where he beat Watson glove side to give the US a 3-1 lead. Cash made two point-blank saves in the final minute to secure the victory.
With a 2-0 victory on Thursday (March 26), the US has won the first two games of the series for the first time ever. The victory was also the sixth consecutive win for the US against Canada.
The final game of the series will take place on Saturday (28 March) at the Extreme Ice Center. Puck drop is set for 12:30 (ET) and the game will be streamed live at FASTHockey.com.
Additionally, live stats and complete coverage of the series can be found at USA Hockey’s website.
The 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Buffalo, New York, open with USA v Russia and Canada v Japan on Sunday (26 April), and features a total of eight teams playing for honours at the HARBORCENTER.
