WESTLAKE’S NATURAL HAT TRICK LEADS CANADA TO WSHC GOLD

CALGARY, Alta. – Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) scored a natural hat trick – one goal in the first period, one in the second, one in the third – as Canada defended its gold medal at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge with a 4-1 victory over the United States on Saturday night.

It’s the fourth gold medal in five tries for Canada at the tournament, and avenges its lone silver – the U.S. beat Canada in overtime in the gold medal game in 2009 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) set up all three of Westlake’s goals and put the final nail in the American coffin with a breakaway goal just 55 seconds after Westlake’s hat trick marker, giving him 10 points in the playoff round after a six-point semifinal outing against Japan.

Bowden finished as the tournament scoring leader with 15 points (six goals, nine assists), one more than Westlake. The assist and point totals both rank as third-best in tournament history.

Taylor Lipsett scored the lone goal for the Americans, who took home for silver for the first time in five appearances at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge; in addition to its 2009 gold, the U.S. won bronze in 2007, 2008 and last April.

Canadian netminder Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) turned aside 13 shots to register his third victory of the tournament, while American counterpart Steve Cash made 14 saves. Both were recognized as Player of the Game for their teams.

Penalties:
   00:53 CAN 29 Graeme Murray (Roughing)
   04:35 CAN 21 Raymond Grassi (Interference)
   15:35 USA 19 Taylor Chace (Elbowing)
   18:24 USA 4 Jim Connelly (Holding)

Penalties:
   01:23 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (Roughing)
   01:23 USA 21 Alexi Salamone (Roughing)

Penalties:
   02:23 USA 19 Taylor Chace (Hooking)
   10:31 USA 15 Nikko Landeros (10-Minute Misconduct)
   11:17 CAN 5 Kevin Rempel (Roughing)
   11:17 USA 19 Taylor Chace (Roughing)
   11:59 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (Holding)
   17:16 USA 7 Taylor Lipsett (Roughing)
   17:16 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Checking from Behind)
   17:16 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (10-Minute Misconduct)