USA to play Canada for Sledge Hockey Challenge title

“I really liked the balance we had offensively today,” said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the US team. “We moved the puck really well and created a lot of opportunities. We continue to get better heading into Saturday’s Championship game.”

Greg Westlake scored twice, Liam Hickey and Adam Dixon added a goal and an assist each, as Canada shut out Norway 6-0 to advance to the gold medal game of the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, Canada on Thursday (8 December).

Tyler McGregor and Bryan Sholomicki also scored for Canada. Brad Bowden picked up two assists.

Canada outshot Norway 26-6. Corbin Watson picked up his 18th career shutout with the team.

Kissinger Deng made 20 saves for Norway.

Canada will play for its ninth gold medal on Saturday (10 December) against the USA. The two teams have met five times before in the final game, with the US winning three of them.

After a scoreless first period, a five-goal second period changed the game completely; in particular, three goals in 3:30 all but sealed Canada its spot in the gold medal game.

Hickey scored his first goal for Canada 15 seconds into the period. After his initial shot was saved by Deng, he circled down low with the rebound and then fired the puck in from the bottom of the left circle.

Minutes later Dixon went low glove side with a shot from the slot.

And only 1:04 after that, Westlake outfought two Norwegians players for the puck below the goal line and fed McGregor, who, with Deng out of position, had an open net to shoot into from just below the bottom of the right circle.

Canada continued to cruise.

Hickey outraced two defenders down the wing and centered to Westlake for an easy one-timer just past the midway mark of the period.

Sholomicki then scored one of the prettiest goals of the week, flicking the puck behind him off a nice pass from Dixon.

Westlake’s second goal of the game – off a pass from below the goal line from Bowden – was the only one scored in the third period.

Canada has now won all 11 meetings between the teams at the tournament. Eight of those wins have been shutouts.

USA v South Korea, 8-1

Eight different players tallied goals as the USA topped Korea, 8-1.

“I really liked the balance we had offensively today,” said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the US team. “We moved the puck really well and created a lot of opportunities. We continue to get better heading into Saturday’s Championship game.”

The victory earns Team USA (3-1-0-0; W-OTW-OTL-L) a spot in Saturday’s Championship game at 3 pm ET against Canada. The title game will be streamed live at HockeyTV.com, in addition to being updated live on Twitter @USAHockeyScores.

Brody Roybal opened the scoring for the US just 4:51 into the contest when he finished on a two-on-one rush with Kevin McKee with a one-timer from the left circle. Declan Farmer also collected an assist on the game’s opening goal.

The US doubled its lead with 3:20 left in the frame when Adam Page scored the first of three Team USA power-play markers in the game. Page collected a pass from Nikko Landeros in the slot and fired a shot that beat South Korean netminder Jae-Woong Lee glove side. Rico Roman was also credited with an assist on the eventual game-winning goal.

Team USA took control in the second period, outshooting Korea 16-2 and finding the back of the net five times. Josh Pauls began the scoring just 45 seconds into the frame with a power-play goal from the bottom of the right circle. Just 3:02 after Pauls’ tally, Luke McDermott netted his first goal of the tournament with a shot from the slot on the man-advantage.

Farmer, Landeros and Roman each netted goals in a 3:32 span in the middle of the frame to account for a 7-0 score entering the second intermission.

Paul Schaus scored with 5:02 remaining before South Korea’s Ju-Seung Lee tallied on the man-advantage with 2:02 left to account for the 8-1 final.

Goaltender Steve Cash made two saves before giving way to Bo Reichenbach early in the second period. Reichenbach finished with three stops in the final 27 minutes of play.

Norway will play South Korea for the bronze medal on Saturday (12 p.m. AT).

More information about the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge can be found at Hockey’s Canada’s website.