U.S. wins third straight world para ice hockey championship

By Shawn Slaght

The United States won its third straight world para ice hockey championship on Sunday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, defeating Team Canada 6-1.

Along with the gold medals, Team USA was also presented a trophy designed by the local organizing committee to reflect the spirit of Moose Jaw.

For the Canadians, this is the first world championship medal they have won on home soil at the para ice hockey championship.

American goaltender Jen Lee was outstanding, stopping eight of nine shots for the victory.

Josh Misiewicz opened the scoring with a redirected pass in front on the first shot of the game to give the United States the lead at 12:12.

The Americans controlled most of the play in the first period. Canada did have its chances but couldn’t overcome the Americans’ stifling defence and the play of Lee.

Declan Farmer, who was one of the leading point-getters in the tournament, got the United States’ second goal with 44.2 seconds left in the first period on a shorthanded breakaway.

The U.S.’s third goal came only 1:23 into the second period. Jack Wallace’s initial shot was stopped by Canadian goaltender Dominic Larocque. The rebound went directly to David Eustace, who put it in the back of the net.

Canada called timeout at 5:33 while on the power play as head coach Russ Herrington tried to rally the troops.

However, a turnover by the Canadians in the American end of the ice led to a breakaway by Wallace and he made no mistake for the shorthanded marker at 4:33 to put the U.S. up 4-0 heading into the final frame.

Canada finally got on the board with 10:38 on the clock in the third period when Zach Lavin found captain Tyler McGregor flying down the wing for the goal.

The Americans regained their four-goal cushion when Farmer scored his second of the game on a two-on-one in which he kept the puck and scored.

Kevin McKee added an empty-net goal for the Americans to make the final 6-1.