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USA Edges Russia; Reaches Gold Medal Game

By USAHockey.com, 04/18/13, 3:45AM EDT

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Alexi Salamone and Taylor Chace scored, while Steve Cash made seven saves in the 2-1 semifinal victory

GOYANG, South Korea – The U.S. National Sled Hockey defeated Russia, 2-1, today in the semifinals of the 2013 International Paralympic Committee World Championship at Goyang SPART Complex. Team USA will play Canada or the Czech Republic in the gold medal game on Saturday (April 20).

Alexi Salamone (Buffalo, N.Y.) made it 1-0 at 5:17 of the first period on a rebound chance. Kevin McKee’s (Davenport, Iowa) shot from the right circle was blocked, but the puck eventually deflected to Salamone and he promptly slid it inside the right post.

Taylor Chace (Hampton Falls, N.H.) scored his team-best fifth goal of the tournament with 2:03 remaining in the second stanza. Chace rushed the puck up the left wing, fought off a check en route to the net and flipped a shot just over the goalie. Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) had the lone assist.

At 4:06 of the third period, Russia scored the first goal of the tournament against Team USA, trimming the U.S. lead to 2-1. Vasilii Varkov notched the power-play goal from the left faceoff dot.

Russia continued its push during the game’s final minutes, but the Team USA defense blocked several shots and Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) denied the rest to secure the 2-1 win. Cash made seven saves in all. 

Team USA’s opponent will be determined later today when Canada and the Czech Republic face off in the other semifinal. The gold medal game will begin at 3:30 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. Korea Time).