2017-18 National Para Hockey Team

CANADA FALLS IN PARA DEVELOPMENT OPENER

JASON LA ROSE

MONTREAL, Que. – Anton Jacobs-Webb (Gatineau, Que.) scored midway through the third period to make it close, but Canada’s National Para Hockey Development Team dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to the United States in the opener of a three-game series Friday at the Défi sportif AlterGo.

Goaltending was the name of the game early, with Canadian starter Tyson Rietveld (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) and American counterpart Griffin LaMarre keeping the game scoreless through their 23 minutes of work each.

The U.S. finally broke through on a power play late in the second period, with Kyle Zych beating Canadian goaltender Trent Seymour (Prince George, B.C.) for the 1-0 goal.

It was 2-0 when Robert Easley counted for the Americans with nine-and-a-half minutes left in the third period, but Jacobs Webb finished a set-up from Zach Lavin (Okotoks, Alta.) to cut the lead in half.

A late power play gave the Canadians hope, but they couldn’t find the equalizer.

The U.S. finished with an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal.

The teams are back on the ice Saturday at the Aréna Howie-Morenz for the second game (7 p.m. ET).

The Défi sportif AlterGo is an international event that brings together elite and up-coming athletes with all types of disabilities. Each year, more than 5,000 athletes from 20 countries compete during seven days in Montreal and on the South-Shore.