2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge

UNITES STATES WINS THIRD STRAIGHT GOLD

WENDY GRAVES

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The United States struck for five goals in the second period to defeat Canada's National Sledge Team 5-2 and win the gold medal at the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

It’s the third straight gold medal for the Americans at the event, and fifth overall.

Canada settled for silver for the fourth time.

Brody Roybal led the way with two goals and an assist. Declan Farmer added a goal and two assists. Farmer finished with an event-leading 17 points.

Steve Cash made 12 saves for the Americans.

Liam Hickey (St. John’s, N.L.) and Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) scored for Canada. Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) assisted on both goals. Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) also had an assist.

Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) stopped nine shots for Canada over two periods. Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) played the third period for Canada, which didn’t surrender a shot over the final 15 minutes.

Canada carried the play throughout most of the first period and opened the scoring seven minutes in. After Westlake brought the puck up ice, Dixon got off a shot from the left side. Cash gave up a big rebound on the save, which a charging Hickey finished off from the slot.

The Americans broke the game open after that. Three goals in 1:55 early in the second period sent the team on its way.

From the high slot, Farmer passed across to Kevin McKee in the left circle for a one-timer just 1:07 in. Twenty-two seconds later Paul Schaus was left alone in the low slot to finish off a centering pass. Shortly thereafter, Roybal roofed it far side from the left circle to make it 3-1.

Canada continued to fight hard. Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) drew a holding call on Luke McDermott on an attempted breakaway; on the ensuing power play Bowden pulled the team within one when he picked the top corner with a rocket from the high slot.

That momentum was short-lived. Roybal skated in from mid-ice and beat Watson short side to restore the Americans’ two-goal lead 39 seconds after Bowden’s goal.

The United States scored its fifth goal with only 38 seconds remaining in the period, Farmer going top shelf far side from the bottom of the left circle.