USA beat Canada in exhibition sledge series

After falling to the Canadians 4-1 in the opening game, the reigning Paralympic champions got back on track with 2-1 and 3-1 victories in the final two games of the series.

The USA’s ice sledge hockey team took two of three games from world No. 1 Canada in their exhibition series this weekend in Indian Trail, North Carolina in the USA.

After falling to the Canadians 4-1 in the opening game, the reigning Paralympic champions got back on track with 2-1 and 3-1 victories in the final two games of the series.

Game 1 (Canada 4, USA 1)

Billy Bridges tallied four assists – including the 300th point of his Team Canada career – to help Canada open the three-game series with a win.

Greg Westlake opened the scoring at the 3:13 mark for Canada, followed by Brad Bowden at 8:46 and Rempel on a power play at 13:13 to allow Canada to make the most of their seven first-period shots.

The USA’s Nikko Landeros netted a score five minutes into the second period, but Rempel, on another Canadian power play, restored the three-goal lead just 30 seconds later.

Corbin Watson made 15 saves in goal for the Canadians.

Game 2 (USA 2, Canada 1)

Declan Farmer and Josh Sweeney both scored for the USA, and goaltender Steve Cash turned away 10 shots to help the Americans win their first game in the series.

Farmer found the back of the net at 11:07 of the first frame off a pass from Josh Pauls, and then midway through the third stanza Rico Roman fed the puck to Sweeney on the left side and he tucked it into the goal.

Bowden scored in the final minute of the game to put Canada within a goal of the USA, but it proved to be too little, too late.

It was Canada’s first loss since 16 February 2013 – a span of 16 games.

Game 3 (USA 3, Canada 1)

Paul Schaus, Kevin McKee and Roman all scored for the USA, with Cash racking up 12 saves for the Americans at the Extreme Ice Centre.

After Canada’s Bowden scored his 100th career goal at 7:15 of the opening period to give Canada the 1-0 lead, Schaus netted a score to make it a tie game.

Bowden became just the third player after Bridges and Westlake to score 100 goals with Team Canada.

The USA took the lead for good at 11:06 in the middle frame when Roman scored from the right circle. McKee capped the American victory when he scored into an empty net with just 15 seconds remaining in the game.

Next up

The USA have now concluded their pre-Sochi 2014 play and will have two training camps in February in North Carolina and Colorado.

Canada will play one more exhibition series against Russia next month before heading off to Sochi.